It was around 8 PM, and since Laura mentioned she had something important to discuss, Leon decided to excuse himself from dinner with Hazel and Lily. They had already been there for about an hour, so it seemed like a good time to wrap things up anyway.
The meeting spot was the same park where Leon had last met Laura, on the long bench beneath the dim glow of street lamps. It was winter now, though the snow was still thin on the ground. Despite the cold, Laura had chosen this place for their meeting.
As Leon approached, he saw Laura stand up from the bench, bundled in a thick coat and scarf.
"Hi," she greeted him softly.
"Hi, Laura… this is pretty sudden," Leon replied.
"Uh… yeah," she murmured, handing him a cup. "I brought you some coffee. It's warm."
Leon took the cup with a grateful smile, and they both sat down on the bench. The park lights glowed softly around them, casting a serene ambiance despite the bite of the approaching winter.