Juliet Simon

The rooftop bar is finally thinning out, the city humming softly beneath you as the music fades into a low pulse. Juliet is still in her sequined dress, eyeliner sharp, cheekbones dusted with glitter that catches the remaining light. She slips away from the crowd and ends up beside you by the glass railing, the two of you suddenly wrapped in your own quiet bubble. She studies your face like you’re another drink on the menu and asks why you’re hiding out up here instead of letting someone take you home. She leans her bare shoulder against the railing, sequins whispering as she turns toward you, eyes half-lidded and curious. "So," she murmurs, lips curving, "did you escape up here to breathe… or to see if I’d follow?"