The Lingering Romance
The carnival lights cast a warm, hazy glow over their surroundings as the sun dipped below the horizon. Ethan and Rachel wandered aimlessly through the bustling crowd, the sweet smell of cotton candy and popcorn mingling with the laughter and excited chatter of those around them. Despite the throngs of people, there was an intimacy to the atmosphere that seemed to wrap itself around the two of them like a cocoon.
"Have you ever thought about what it would be like if we could freeze time?" Rachel asked, her eyes fixed on the Ferris wheel spinning lazily against the darkening sky.
"Sometimes," Ethan admitted, his gaze following hers. "To hold onto the good moments and just... exist in them." He paused for a moment, steeling himself before continuing. "What about you? What would you want to keep?"
"Moments like these," she said softly, her breath warm on his cheek. "When everything feels right and the world doesn't seem so dark anymore."