the streets of london were awash with chatter, sounds of the bustling city fading into a low white noise as felix walked briskly alongside his companion. they hadn’t quite yet decided where they were going, light-hearted banter had faded into comfortable silence shortly after they’d left the café they had lunch in. felix’s gaze wandered over the array of brightly-coloured shops, remembering childhood days when he’d be dragged to all sorts of trendy boutique openings by his mother. “fancy some retail therapy?” he suggested, gesturing towards the outlets with a playful raise of his pierced brow.