I'd much rather see you without it

As the celebration began to wind down, I found myself in a sea of farewells. Guests approached one after another, offering their congratulations and promises of future meetings.

It was a whirlwind of formalities, and though I appreciated the well-wishes, my mind was already wandering elsewhere. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face, only to realise with a quiet chuckle that Riley and Seraphine had slipped away long before.

Typical. 

I could almost hear Riley's teasing voice in my head, always one to escape the pomp and circumstance as soon as she could. Seraphine, no doubt, had been more than happy to follow her lead.

I couldn't help but smile, knowing exactly where they'd gone off to steal some time alone before the night was truly over. I envied them in that moment. The night had been beautiful, but I was craving a little peace of my own.