An early morning fog drifted through Illagu. It was thick enough that I could barely see past one block. I had no idea how I’d managed to wake up so early, but since I wasn’t tired, a trip to the clock tower seemed like as good an option as anything else.
When I arrived at the top of the tower, I saw Leslie, leaning against the railing as they gazed out at the fog covered city.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Leslie jumped. They spun toward me with wide eyes, a hand on their heaving chest.
I snorted, trying not to laugh. “Sorry,” I said, walking up to them. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t,” they replied. “You startled me. Huge difference.”
“Right,” I said, rolling my eyes.
Leslie resumed their position from before, staring out at the city beyond the tower. As I leaned against the ledge, I looked over at them. They seemed down.
“So why are you here?” I asked again, hoping they would tell me what was bothering them.
“Just thinking,” they replied softly. “I can see why you like it up here – really clears a person’s head.”
Silence. I looked out at the white shrouded rooftops of the city below, peaks of orange poking out from a blanket of clouds. It was gorgeous.
“Thwertoiwejtwmkth the mayor and Ramona ended yesterday,” Leslie said finally. “Things… didn’t exactly go my way.” Then they turned to me, giving me a curious glance. “And why are you up here, Dax?”
“I just got up ridiculously early for no reason,” I responded with a shrug. “If anything I’d have expected to get up later after the Voice Day I had with Simone and Tazina.”
“That’s the System holiday bytes celebrate but no one knows why, right?” Leslie asked.
“That’s the one,” I replied with a chuckle.
“Huh,” Leslie said. “I thought you didn’t celebrate.”
I turned to them, crossing my arms. “That’s because your calendar’s weird. I had no idea when it was!”
Leslie laughed. I smiled at the sound. They were already in a much better mood than when I’d found them.
I wrapped myself around their arm and rested my head on their shoulder. They planted a kiss on the top of my head.
“Do you wanna get some breakfast?” I asked. The rising sun was starting to burn off the fog. I could already see some people wandering onto the streets.
“Yeah,” Leslie replied. “I know a great place not far from here.”
But we didn’t move. We stood there together, watching as the fog slowly disappeared and the city below grew busier.
If I could have stayed in that moment forever, I would have.
To be continued…