"I never knew the night could feel so still..."
They danced until the record ended. Then they played it again. And again.
The city hummed outside. The lamps flickered. But in that room, time stopped.
They danced until the sky began to lighten, until the first rays of dawn crept through the curtains, until their legs grew tired and their hearts grew full.
Then they lay down together, still in each other's arms, and let sleep finally take them.
The record spun once more, then stilled.
And the room held the echo of their dance like a secret.
The record had stopped. The room was quiet. Sleep still hovered at the edges, but neither of them wanted it. Not yet. The night was too soft, too full of something unnamed.
Alex sat up first. He looked toward the window, then up.
"There's a pool on the roof," he said. "The hotel manager mentioned it. Private. For VIP guests."
Saeko followed his gaze. "Now?"
"Why not?"
She smiled. "Why not."
°°°
