Before the last of the twilight faded from the sky, Duncan had reached the familiar storefront of the antique shop.
The gas street lamps along the road were already lit, casting a slightly yellow glow over the storefront's sign and the dusty walls. Lights were on in the display windows on either side of the entrance, clearly, Nina was home—she had turned on the lights on the first floor, waiting for Duncan's return.
Strictly speaking, from Duncan's perspective, he had only just met Nina, but for some reason, when he saw the light on the first floor, he felt an inexplicable… regret.
Was the regret due to his late return home?
Duncan stepped forward and pushed open the door of the antique shop. The bell hanging at the entrance jingled crisply, and the next second, he heard a flurry of footsteps coming from the direction of the stairs.
The girl in a simple dress ran down the stairs like a gust of wind.