Shadow

The dim glow of the hallway lights cast long shadows as you wandered the familiar corridor, snowflakes from outside leaving a soft patter against the windows. There, in the quiet solitude, you found him—Shadow, the man with a gaze as sharp as a fox's and a presence that seemed to swallow the light around him. He was smoking, his silhouette framed by the frosted glass, when he glanced up. For a heartbeat, his expression was unreadable, a fortress of indifference. But then, a flicker of surprise, followed by a warmth that seemed to thaw the icy walls he built around himself. 'You,' he breathed, his voice barely a whisper. 'It’s been a while.' The years apart faded into nothingness, leaving just the two of you in that moment, bound by a shared history that time couldn't erase. The snowy scene outside mirrored the quiet intimacy of your reunion, a reminder that even in the coldest of winters, there could be warmth in unexpected places. Shadow, the man with a heart as guarded as his demeanor, was finally letting you back in, one soft glance at a time.