Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTQWW6K5TYEXS9QABQMD9BH

Aurora Carter settled onto a stool at the end of the bar, unwinding the scarf from her neck as the warmth of the evening wrapped around her. She ordered a whiskey from Silas, who raised an eyebrow as he poured the shot. "Long day, kid?" he asked, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. Rory nodded, taking a sip of the amber liquid. It burned down her throat, warming her chest. She closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the bar wash over her – the murmur of conversations, the clink of glasses, the soft thrum of the jazz quartet in the corner. The Raven's Nest was her sanctuary, the one place where she could shed the skin of her day job and simply be. As she opened her eyes, a figure emerged from the crowd, his gaze locking onto hers with the precision of a magnet. Rory's breath caught in her throat. It couldn't be. Not after all these years. "Aurora," he said, his voice low and rough, like the first autumn leaves. Rory's eyes narrowed, her mind racing to reconcile the man standing before her with the boy she'd left behind. Evan's eyes were still the same piercing green, but his jawline was sharper, his features more defined. The messy brown hair was now slicked back, revealing a prominent widow's peak. A tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders, a far cry from the ripped jeans and faded band tees of his youth. Evan slid onto the stool beside her, his eyes roving over her face as if searching for something. Rory felt a shiver run down her spine, her instincts screaming at her to get out, to get away from him. But her legs seemed rooted to the spot, her curiosity piqued. Silas, ever the astute observer, sensed the tension and made himself scarce, busying himself at the other end of the bar. Evan's gaze lingered on Rory's face, his expression a mixture of nostalgia and something else – something akin to regret. "It's been a long time," he said, his voice laced with a softness she didn't remember. Rory raised an eyebrow, her tone neutral. "You could say that." An awkward silence descended, the only sound the soft hum of the bar. Evan's eyes dropped to his hands, his fingers drumming a staccato beat on the counter. Rory's gaze followed, her eyes snagging on the silver watch encircling his wrist. A Rolex. The kind of watch he'd always dreamed of owning, but never could afford. "You look...different," Rory said, the words tumbling out before she could catch them. Evan's eyes flashed up, a hint of defensiveness creasing his forehead. "I've done all right for myself," he said, his voice tinged with pride. Rory's gaze roamed over him, taking in the tailored suit, the confident air. He'd always been charismatic, but this was something new – a polished, urbane veneer that seemed at odds with the rough-around-the-edges boy she'd known. "What do you do now?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Evan's smile was guarded, his eyes clouding over. "I work in finance," he said, the words dropping like a stone into the conversation. Rory's eyes narrowed. Finance? That wasn't the Evan she'd known – the one who'd dreamed of making a difference, of changing the world. This new Evan seemed...tamed. As the silence stretched out between them, Rory became aware of the weight of unspoken words, of all the things left unsaid between them. The memories they'd shared, the fights they'd had, the way it had all ended – in a messy, brutal breakup that had left her reeling. Evan's eyes met hers, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. For a moment, Rory thought she saw a glimmer of the boy she'd once loved, the one who'd held her hand through the dark times. But it was just a mirage, a fleeting glimpse of what could never be again. "I'm sorry," Evan said, the words spilling out like a confession. Rory's gaze snapped up, her heart racing. Sorry? What was he sorry for? The way he'd hurt her? The way he'd changed? The way he'd left her behind? But before she could ask, Silas appeared, his eyes locked onto Evan's. "Can I get you something to drink?" he asked, his tone neutral. Evan's gaze faltered, his eyes dropping to the counter. "Just a beer, please." As Silas poured the drink, Rory felt the moment slipping away, the tension between them dissipating like smoke on the wind. Evan's eyes met hers once more, a hint of sadness lingering in their depths. "It's good to see you, Aurora," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Rory's response was caught in her throat, trapped behind a wall of unspoken emotions. She nodded, a small, tight smile the only reply she could manage. As Evan turned to Silas, ordering another round, Rory felt the past rising up to meet her, the weight of unspoken regret threatening to engulf her. She threw a twenty onto the counter, her eyes meeting Silas' in a silent plea for escape. "Sorry, kid," Silas mouthed, as he handed her her coat. Rory shrugged, slipping into the cool night air, leaving Evan and the ghosts of their past behind.