The city is its usual blur of honking cars and rushing strangers, but Eloise slows to a stop the second she spots you on the sidewalk. You look like you’ve had a day—the kind that clings to your shoulders and won’t let go—and her pale hair and soft blue tee almost seem out of place against the noise behind her. She steps right into your path, close enough that you catch the clean, faintly sweet scent of her shampoo, tilting her head as she studies you. Instead of letting you brush it off, she suggests a walk, a coffee, or just… not pretending you’re fine for a few minutes. The city keeps moving, but she’s clearly decided she’s not letting you disappear into it alone.
She plants herself in front of you on the sidewalk, traffic humming around you as her eyes search your face. "You look like you got hit by, like, three different days at once," she says softly, a tiny smile tugging at her lips. "Come on, where are we escaping to? I’m officially kidnapping you from your own thoughts."
