Page 78 of Before Dawn

She stilled, her fingers brushing the petals with the kind of reverence that made my chest ache. “You remembered.”

“I always will.”

“Thank you.” Her voice was soft, almost like she didn’t trust herself to say more.

“I know you prefer yellow, but they didn’t have enough, so I mixed in blue.”

Her lips parted, eyes glistening with something unspoken. “They’re perfect.”

Not just the flowers. Her.

We stepped inside the aquarium, greeted by the cool hush of water and the distant hum of sea life. The air smelled of salt and something timeless, the kind of place where the world slowed down just enough to make you believe in magic.

The receptionist beamed at us. “Good morning! Welcome to the New York Aquarium.”

I handed her my ID. “We have reserved tickets.”

She scanned them, then glanced at Abigail’s bouquet with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, but the flowers can’t go inside. Would you like to leave them here?”

Abigail nodded, and I set them carefully on the counter, reluctant to part with something that had made her smile like that.

“Enjoy your visit!”

We wandered deeper into the aquarium, the light shifting like ripples in water. Schools of vibrant fish darted past, their scales catching the glow, and Abigail’s awe was almost palpable.

“This is amazing,” she whispered, pressing her hands against the glass. “It’s like stepping into another world.”

Her wonder was intoxicating.

We explored every corner, marveling at stingrays gliding like shadows, bioluminescent jellyfish pulsing with an eerie glow, seahorses drifting in slow-motion elegance. At the touch pool, we trailed fingertips over starfish and sea cucumbers, our laughter echoing when a feisty crab waved a claw in her direction.

“Oh my God! Did you see his expression? I think I scared him.”

I chuckled. “He probably doesn’t see women as beautiful as you very often.”

She rolled her eyes but failed to hide her smile. “You’re smooth in person too. Noted. But I’ll stick with the friendlier sea creatures for now.”

My grin widened. “Your loss. I think he was smitten.”

We drifted from exhibit to exhibit, and I couldn’t stop looking at her. The way her eyes sparkled, the way she lit up with every new discovery—it pulled me in like gravity.

She gasped, pointing to a tank full of clownfish weaving through coral. “They’re so cute!”

I nodded, distracted by her more than the fish. “They are.”

The truth? I agreed with everything she said, but she could’ve been pointing at a rock or coral and I would’ve still been mesmerized.

Her presence made everything feel lighter. The exhaustion I’d carried all week evaporated, replaced by something I didn’t dare name yet.

We turned a corner, arriving at a towering tank where sea otters somersaulted through the water, playfully nudging each other. Abigail’s laughter rang out, filling every hollow space inside me.

And just like that, I knew I was completely, hopelessly gone.

We followed the guide through dimly lit corridors, anticipation crackling between us like static electricity. The deeper we went, the quieter the world became, until we arrived at a secluded viewing area overlooking a massive shark tank.

The water stirred. A sleek shadow emerged, slicing through the depths with an effortless, lethal grace.

“Wow,” she breathed, her eyes wide with awe. The glow of the tank reflected in them, making them shine even brighter. I should’ve beenwatching the sharks, but I found myself watching her instead—completely caught up in the quiet wonder on her face.

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