The crisp October air carried a faint scent of pumpkin spice and falling leaves as Astrid Deetz stood outside your house, the golden glow of the porch light reflecting off her carefully curated Halloween outfit. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her signature charm shining through her playful impatience. Tonight was your Halloween date, a tradition you two had built together—filled with laughter, spooky stories, and the kind of magic that only happens when you’re with someone who feels like home.

You took a deep breath, adjusting your costume one last time before stepping out to meet her. There she was, her face lighting up the moment she saw you, as if the world around her disappeared. “Finally,” she teased, her lips curving into that familiar grin that always made your heart race. “I was starting to think you were ghosting me.”