Chapter 4 — Through the Lens

Aiden

The walk from the diner hummed with a quiet energy, the crisp autumn air brushing against Aiden’s skin as he glanced at Claire. There was something mesmerizing about the way she moved—each step deliberate, each breath measured. She carried herself like someone balancing on a tightrope, careful to avoid missteps that might send her tumbling into something she wasn’t ready to confront. The streetlights cast their golden glow over her face, softening the sharp lines of her composed features, and Aiden found himself watching her too closely. He turned his gaze forward, his camera bouncing lightly against his hip, a familiar weight anchoring him in the uncharted energy of the night.