Run: 2026-04-24-01KQ06P1PDJZV8MPXWQE1EJWTX

The green neon sign above The Raven's Nest cast a sickly glow across the wet pavement as Aurora pushed open the heavy oak door. The bell chimed softly, announcing her arrival to the handful of patrons scattered around the dimly lit space. She shrugged off her damp jacket, revealing the Golden Empress delivery uniform underneath, and hung it on the hook by the door. "Rough night?" Silas called from behind the bar, polishing a glass with a worn cloth. "Just the usual," Aurora replied, sliding onto a stool at the far end of the bar. "Traffic was brutal." He nodded, moving to pull her usual whiskey from the shelf. "You look tired." "I am tired," she admitted, rubbing her eyes. "Long week." Silas set the glass in front of her. "On the house. You earned it." Aurora offered a small smile. "Thanks, Silas." The bar was quiet tonight, just the low hum of conversation from a couple in the corner and the clink of glasses as Silas worked. Aurora traced the rim of her glass, watching the amber liquid swirl. She hadn't meant to stay out late, but the thought of returning to the empty flat above the bar felt suffocating. The bell above the door chimed again, and Aurora didn't look up, assuming it was another late-night patron seeking refuge from the rain. But then a familiar voice cut through the low murmur of the bar. "Aurora? Is that you?" Aurora froze, her fingers tightening around the glass. The voice belonged to Liam Davies, someone she hadn't seen in five years. She took a breath before turning, forcing a neutral expression onto her face. "Liam," she said, her voice even. "What are you doing here?" He stood there, looking older somehow, with streaks of grey in his dark hair that hadn't been there when she'd last seen him. His tailored suit looked expensive, a stark contrast to her delivery uniform. "Business meeting," he replied, sliding onto the stool beside her. "Couldn't believe it when I saw you. You look... different." "Different how?" Aurora asked, taking a sip of her whiskey. The burn helped center her. "Just... more settled, I think. Less like you were always waiting for the other shoe to drop." Aurora laughed, a short, sharp sound. "And you look exactly like I expected. Corporate lawyer written all over you." Liam grinned, the same easy smile that had charmed everyone in their university days. "Guilty as charged. Cardiff paid well, so I took the plunge." "Must be nice," Aurora said, swirling her drink again. "Stability." "You sound surprised." "I'm not," she said. "Just... envious." Silas approached, sensing the tension. "Another for your friend, Rory?" Aurora nodded. "Please. Whatever he's having." Liam ordered a gin and tonic, then turned back to Aurora. "How long have you been in London?" "Five years," she said. "Left right after graduation." "And you never came back?" "I couldn't," Aurora replied, her gaze fixed on her glass. "Too many ghosts." "Like Evan?" Liam asked, the name hanging in the air between them. Aurora's jaw tightened slightly. "We don't need to go there." "Right," Liam said, holding up his hands. "Sorry." "No," Aurora said, shaking her head. "It's fine. It's just... complicated." "I can imagine," Liam replied. "When I heard you'd left Cardiff without a word, I figured something bad happened." "Something did happen," Aurora said, her voice low. "I needed a clean break." Liam nodded slowly. "I always wondered why you disappeared." "I didn't want anyone to find me," Aurora admitted. "Not even you." "Why not me? We were friends, Rory. Best friends." "Were we really?" Aurora countered, finally meeting his eyes. "Or were you just Evan's friend who tolerated me?" The question hung between them, heavy with unspoken history. Liam looked away first, tracing the condensation on his glass. "That's not fair," he said quietly. "Isn't it?" Aurora stood up suddenly, her stool scraping against the floor. "I have to get up early." "Liam, wait," he said, reaching out to stop her. She pulled away, avoiding his touch. "I can't do this right now," she said, grabbing her jacket. "Maybe some other time." "Rory, please," he called after her, but she was already halfway to the door. "It's just... I've missed you." The words stopped her cold. She turned back, her expression unreadable in the dim light. "You have a strange way of showing it, Liam. Five years. Five years and you just waltz in here expecting everything to be the same?" "I didn't expect anything," Liam said, his voice earnest. "I just wanted to see you." "Well, you've seen me," Aurora said, her voice flat. "Now I'm going home." She pushed through the door, leaving Liam sitting alone at the bar, his untouched gin and tonic growing warmer by the second. Silas approached, wiping down the bar in front of where Liam sat. "Want that in a to-go cup?" Silas asked, his voice gentle. Liam shook his head, staring at the door where Aurora had disappeared. "No. I think I've had enough for one night." Silas nodded, understanding in his eyes. "She's been through a lot since she left Cardiff." "I know," Liam said, running a hand through his hair. "I should have known." "Most people don't understand what she went through," Silas said, polishing a glass with unnecessary force. "Not really." "Did she ever talk about it?" Liam asked, his voice hopeful. "Some," Silas admitted. "Enough to know she's stronger than she looks." Liam sighed, draining his glass in one go. "I should go." "Probably wise," Silas said quietly. "Give her some space." Liam nodded, pulling out his wallet to pay for his drink. "Thanks." "Of course," Silas replied. "Come back anytime. Rory does too." As Liam left the bar, Silas watched him go, then turned to clean up the stool Aurora had vacated. He remembered her first day working at the bar, how skittish she'd been, how she jumped at sudden movements. Five years later, she carried herself differently, but the shadows remained, just beneath the surface. Upstairs in her flat, Aurora leaned against the door, her heart pounding against her ribs. Seeing Liam after all these years had opened wounds she thought had healed. She traced the crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist, a reminder of the night she'd finally decided to leave Evan, to leave everything behind. The phone rang, breaking her concentration. She considered ignoring it, but knew it was probably Silas checking on her. With a sigh, she answered. "You okay?" Silas asked, his voice gentle. "I'm fine," Aurora replied, though she knew he could hear the tremor in her voice. "He caught you off guard." "Something like that," Aurora said, sinking onto the sofa. "It's been years, Silas. Why now?" "People have a way of turning up when you least expect them," Silas said. "Especially when they're carrying their own regrets." Aurora was quiet for a moment. "Do you think he actually missed me?" "That's not for me to say," Silas replied. "But I do know he came looking for you before. A few times, actually." Aurora sat up straighter. "He did?" "After you left Cardiff," Silas explained. "He showed up at the bar asking about you. Told me you were his best friend." Aurora closed her eyes. "I never knew." "People don't always share everything," Silas said. "Not even with those closest to them." The line was silent for a long moment. "I should go to bed," Aurora said finally. "Early shift tomorrow." "Get some rest, Rory," Silas said. "And maybe consider giving him a chance. Five years is a long time to hold onto anger." "I'll think about it," Aurora said, though she wasn't sure if she meant it. As she ended the call, Aurora stared out the window at the rain-slicked streets below. The city lights blurred together, just like her thoughts. Part of her wanted to reach out to Liam, to understand why he'd never tried to contact her before now. Another part wanted to slam that door shut forever, to keep her past buried where it belonged. She ran a hand through her black hair, the familiar weight of it a small comfort. Five years in London, five years of building a new life, and one chance encounter threatened to unravel it all. With a sigh, Aurora turned away from the window and headed to her bedroom, the ghost of Liam's voice echoing in her mind.