Slow water

They sat there for a moment. The only sounds in the room were their quiet breaths. Their footsteps echoing softly throughout the empty restroom. The ticking of the grandfather clock somewhere far away in the distance. They listened to its rhythm until Luna pulled back, resting her head on his shoulder again. Alaric looked down, catching sight of the bracelet she wore around her wrist. A simple silver band with tiny white flowers embroidered onto it. It reminded him of the sunflower bracelet his grandmother had given him when he was younger. He smiled faintly at the memory, running his thumb across the band.

"It's funny. Before Mom died, she bought me this bracelet, too," Alaric murmured, his fingers tracing the delicate patterns on the bracelet lightly. "The sunflower represents hope…" he mumbled. Luna lifted her head, her eyebrows knitted together as she looked at him in confusion.

"Hope?" she questioned. Alaric shook his head slightly, smiling weakly. "Yeah." He paused, trying to f