The morning was quiet inside the Beaumont house.

Sunlight slipped through the curtains and spread across the hallway, leaving pale patches of light across the wooden floor. Somewhere downstairs, the faint sound of dishes being moved around could be heard, but the rest of the house remained unusually calm.

Benjamin Beaumont walked slowly down the hallway, glancing into a few rooms as he searched for his wife.

"Bianca?"

There was no answer.

He continued toward their bedroom and pushed the door open.

Bianca was lying comfortably on the bed, her back against the pillows, completely absorbed in her phone. She barely looked up when Benjamin entered.

"Bianca, do you know where the peanut butter is?" Benjamin asked.

Without saying anything, Bianca reached toward the drawer beside the bed and pulled it open. She took out a jar of peanut butter and held it out toward him.

Benjamin took it.

"Thanks."

He turned toward the door.

"Hey."

Benjamin stopped.

He glanced back at her.

"I wanted to tell you something," Bianca said.

Benjamin raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"Close the door."

He looked at the door for a moment before sighing and closing it behind him.

Bianca moved slightly, making room beside her.

Benjamin walked back and sat on the edge of the bed.

"What is it?" he asked again, this time with a little more patience.

Bianca lowered her phone onto the bed.

"It's nothing bad, honey."

Benjamin exhaled.

"Okay..."

"It's about Bella."

"I see."

For a moment, Bianca simply looked at him.

Then a small smile appeared on her face.

"Our great-grandfather told me that Bella has a boyfriend."

Benjamin blinked.

"Already?"

Bianca nodded.

"And he said we should start planning for dinner tomorrow."

Benjamin looked at her, slightly surprised.

"Ah... already? I haven't even met the boy."

"Neither have I," Bianca said. "But we will very soon."

She picked up her phone again, though she didn't look at the screen.

"I already told the other family members."

Benjamin stared at her.

"You told everyone?"

"Yes."

"Why are you so excited about this?"

Bianca looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious.

"Because I'm happy for her."

Benjamin gave a small shrug.

"I'm happy for her too. I just don't understand why we need to start planning everything already. I haven't even met the guy."

Bianca's smile faded slightly.

"You should be agreeing with me."

"I am agreeing with you."

"You don't sound like it."

Benjamin rubbed his face.

"Bianca, I just want to go to work."

Her expression changed.

The excitement disappeared from her face, replaced by something quieter.

"Don't go."

Benjamin looked at her.

"Tell them you're sick."

He frowned.

"Why?"

"I can't do this alone."

Her voice became softer.

For the first time, Benjamin noticed the sadness in her eyes.

Bianca looked down at her hands, trying to hide the fact that she was becoming emotional.

"I just... I need you there."

Benjamin stared at her for a moment.

The room became quiet.

He had expected her to be excited about Bella having a boyfriend. He hadn't expected her to look like she was about to cry.

Benjamin's expression softened.

"Alright."

Bianca looked up.

"I'll tell them I'm sick."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

A small smile returned to her face.

"Thank you."

Benjamin stood from the bed, still holding the jar of peanut butter.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have breakfast to make."

Bianca chuckled softly.

"Go."

Benjamin opened the door.

Before leaving, he glanced back at her.

"Tomorrow, then."

Bianca nodded.

"Tomorrow."

Benjamin walked out and gently closed the door behind him.

Bianca remained sitting on the bed.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

She looked down at her phone again, but she didn't unlock it.

Instead, she simply sat there in silence.

Lucas woke up when someone opened the door.

Still half-asleep, he slowly pushed himself out of bed and rubbed his eyes. For a moment, he couldn't figure out what was happening.

Then he saw Damon.

Damon was barely standing.

Jay had one arm around him, helping him walk through the doorway. Damon looked completely drunk, his head hanging to one side as he mumbled something Lucas couldn't understand.

Lucas stared at them.

"What the hell happened?"

Jay glanced at him.

"Ah, Lucas. You finally woke up."

Jay continued walking, dragging Damon along with him.

"I had to break the door because I thought no one was home."

Lucas looked toward the doorway.

The damage was obvious.

He sighed.

"Of course you did."

Jay finally managed to get Damon to his room and helped him inside.

A few seconds later, Jay came back out.

"I feel like sleeping around here," he said casually. "You don't mind, right?"

Before Lucas could answer, Jay threw himself onto the couch.

Lucas stared at him.

Then he looked at the broken door.

Then back at Jay.

He sighed.

"Fine."

"Thanks."

Lucas walked back toward his room.


*Morning, love.*
Lucas stopped.

Bella's voice had appeared inside his head.

He smiled slightly.


*Morning.*

*Did you sleep well?*

*Not anymore.*
Bella laughed softly.


*What happened?*

*Long story.*
Lucas glanced toward the living room.


*Let's meet at Oakwood Library.*

*Oh, alright. When?*

*Whenever you're ready.*
Bella paused.


*I'm still in bed.*

*Then whenever you get out of bed.*

*Very specific.*

*I try.*
Lucas smiled to himself.

Before Bella could respond, Kim walked into the hallway.

She stopped when she noticed Lucas staring toward the front door.

"What are you staring at?"

Lucas looked at her.

"Just looking at the girl behind you."

Kim immediately turned around.

There was nobody there.

She looked back at Lucas.

"Are you crazy?"

Lucas shrugged.

"If I was, would you still be my sister?"

Kim sighed.

"Ah, Luc."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her keys before walking toward her bedroom. As she unlocked the door, she suddenly noticed Jay lying across the couch.

She stopped.

"What is Jay doing here?"

Lucas looked toward the couch.

"He's taking care of his headache."

Kim stared at Jay.

Then she looked back at Lucas.

"You'll be the one cleaning up after him."

Lucas smirked.

"You say that as if you're the wife here, hubby."

Kim looked down at herself.

She was wearing a skirt.

"Oh."

She looked back at Lucas with a completely nonchalant expression.

"Sorry. I didn't notice that I'm wearing the pants."

Lucas burst into a grin.
Kim opened her bedroom door.

"Enjoy your joke."

She walked inside and closed the door. Lucas stood there for a moment. Then he looked toward the front door again. The broken door was still hanging there.

He sighed.

"Now what do we do with the door?"

Bella was already dressed and ready to leave her room when she stepped into the hallway.

She almost immediately ran into her mother and father, who were both dressed up as well.

Bella looked at them.

"Are you guys going somewhere?"

Her mother barely looked at her.

"Yeah. Mind your own business."

Bella blinked.

Her father gave her a more reassuring answer.

"Just a family adults' thing."

"Oh."

Bella watched them walk past her and disappear down the hallway.

She shrugged and headed toward the sitting room.

As soon as she entered, she stopped.

The teddy bear was sitting there again.

Bear was watching television.

And somehow, everyone was acting as though this was completely normal.

Bennett was sitting beside the teddy bear, staring at the television with him.

Bella slowly looked at the bear.

Then at Bennett.

Then back at the television.

She decided not to ask.

Bennett suddenly laughed.

"I love how that girl just cut off her tongue."

Bella glanced at the television.

The horror movie continued playing.

She shook her head and walked toward the kitchen.

She opened the refrigerator and began looking for something to eat.

As she was preparing her food, she suddenly heard laughter coming from the sitting room.

One laugh.

Then another.

Bella froze.

Her hand stopped moving.

Her heart began pounding.

She slowly turned toward the doorway.

For a moment, she simply stood there, listening.

Nothing.

Bella cautiously walked back toward the sitting room.

She looked inside.

Bennett was sitting exactly where she had left him.

Alone.

The teddy bear was beside him.

Bella stared at them.

"Did you hear the second laughter?"

Bennett didn't even look away from the television.

"It was Eljin."

Bella frowned.

"Eh? What Eljin?"

"Yeah."

Bennett continued watching the television as though the conversation had ended.

Bella stood there, confused.

She looked at the teddy bear.

It hadn't moved.

At least, she didn't think it had.

She slowly backed away.

"Okay..."

She returned to the kitchen.

Whatever was happening in that house, she was beginning to realize that asking questions only made things stranger.

So she decided not to ask anymore.

Bella finished preparing her food, sat down, and ate her leftovers in silence.

Bella finished her leftovers and left the plate in the sink.

She grabbed her bag and headed out of the kitchen.

"I'm going to the library," she called out.

Nobody answered.

Bella didn't bother waiting for a response. She walked out of the house and closed the door behind her.

The morning was still quiet as she made her way down the street toward Oakwood Public Library. The library was right next to Western Ravenport University, so it wasn't a long walk for her.

She had already been walking for a few minutes when something suddenly crossed her mind.

Bella stopped.

"Oh."

She had forgotten.

She had completely forgotten to tell Lucas that she was leaving.

She pulled out her phone, but then remembered they didn't exactly need one to talk.


*Lucas?*
His voice immediately appeared inside her head.


*Yeah?*

*I forgot to tell you something.*

*What?*

*I'm already on my way to the library.*
There was a short pause.


*You're on your way now?*

*Yeah.*

*You didn't tell me you were leaving.*

*I know. That's what I just said.*
Lucas laughed.


*I thought we were supposed to meet whenever you were ready.*

*I was ready.*

*And you didn't tell me?*

*I forgot.*

*That's impressive.*
Bella rolled her eyes.


*Just come to the library.*

*I will.*

*When?*

*Whenever I'm ready.*
Bella smiled.


*You're annoying.*

*So I've been told.*
Bella continued walking.

The university buildings were already becoming visible in the distance.

*I'm almost there,* she said.


*Alright. I'll see you soon.*

*Okay.*
The connection went quiet.

Bella lowered her phone and continued toward the library.

For some reason, she felt slightly nervous.

She had spoken to Lucas so many times inside her head.

But this time would be different.

This time, she was actually going to see him.

Bella finally arrived at Oakwood Public Library.

She slowed down as she approached the entrance.

For some reason, her heart was beating faster than it had during the entire walk.

She adjusted her bag and looked around.

Nobody.

She checked her phone.

Nothing.


*Lucas?*
No response.

Bella looked toward the entrance again.

Maybe he hadn't arrived yet.

She walked inside and looked around the library.

The familiar smell of old books surrounded her. A few people were scattered between the shelves, quietly reading or working.

She stood near the entrance, waiting.

A minute passed.

Then another.

Bella exhaled.

"Where is he?"

"Looking for me?"

Bella froze.

She slowly turned around.

A guy was standing a few steps behind her.

She stared at him.

For a moment, she couldn't say anything.

She knew that face.

She had seen it before.

Not with her eyes.

Inside her head.

Lucas.

He gave her a small smile.

"Hi."

Bella's eyes widened slightly.

"Lucas?"

"Yeah."

She continued staring at him.

This was strange.

Really strange.

She had spent so much time talking to him without ever actually seeing him. His voice had become familiar to her, to the point where she could recognize his mood just from the way he spoke.

But standing in front of her now...

He looked different.

Not different in a bad way.

Just...

More real.

Bella had imagined what he looked like before, but reality had somehow managed to be better than whatever picture her mind had created.

Lucas noticed that she was staring.

"What?"

Bella quickly looked away.

"Nothing."

"You're staring."

"I know."

Lucas smiled.

"So this is the first time we've actually seen each other."

Bella looked back at him.

"Yeah."

There was a brief silence.

Neither of them seemed to know what to say next.

It was almost funny.

They had talked about random things, argued, joked around and spent hours inside each other's heads.

Yet now that they were standing face to face, neither of them could find a normal sentence.

Lucas looked at her.

"You're prettier than I imagined."

Bella's face immediately changed.

She looked away again.

"You're not supposed to say that."

"Why?"

"Because now I don't know what to say."

Lucas laughed.

"Okay."

He looked away for a moment.

"Then I'll pretend I didn't say it."

Bella smiled.

"Thank you."

Another quiet moment passed.

Bella looked at him again.

"And you're..."

She stopped.

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"I'm what?"

"Nothing."

"No, finish."

Bella shook her head.

"Forget it."

Lucas smiled.

"You think I'm handsome."

"I didn't say that."

"You were about to."

"I wasn't."

"You definitely were."

Bella rolled her eyes.

"You're exactly the same."

Lucas smiled.

"That's disappointing?"

"No."

She looked at him for another second.

"It's actually nice."

Lucas's expression softened.

"Yeah."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

They just stood there, looking at each other.

It was strange seeing someone who had always existed as a voice suddenly become a person standing right in front of her.

Bella could hear his voice without it being inside her head.

Lucas could finally see the person he had spent so much time talking to.

And somehow, neither of them felt like strangers.

They had already known each other.

They just hadn't met yet.

"So," Lucas said, breaking the silence, "do you want to find somewhere to sit?"

Bella nodded.

"Yeah."

They started walking deeper into the library together.

After a few steps, Bella glanced at him again.

Lucas noticed.

"You're staring again."

"Shut up."

He laughed.

Bella smiled and looked ahead.

For the first time, the voice inside her head had a face.




-----


They walked slowly through the library, eventually finding a quiet place where they could sit.

Lucas looked at Bella.

"What did you eat?"

Bella looked at him.

"I ate chicken. It was my leftover."

"Chicken necks?"

Bella immediately made a disgusted face.

"Eww, no."

"Yeah, I don't like those either."

Bella shook her head.

"It's not necks."

"Chicken skin?"

"Oh, that's even worse."

Lucas looked at her seriously.

"I don't like chicken skin unless it's fried into a crisp. Like KFC type."

Bella looked at him as if he had just said something completely ridiculous.

"It's meat!"

"Um..."

Lucas looked away for a moment.

"You eat the chicken skin?"

Bella stared at him.

Lucas continued.

"Isn't it too weird? And when you swallow it, it's slimy and moves so slowly. It makes me want to vomit."

Bella simply stared at him.

"It's meat."

"Eh, it's still weird."

Bella went silent.

"..."

Lucas looked at her.

"How?"

Bella shrugged.

"Guess when you cook chicken for me, mine will be fried. Or chicken without the skin."

He shook his head.

"It's weird because the skin is weird when you swallow it. It makes me want to vomit."

Bella looked at him curiously.

"Ohh, so you don't like chicken?"

"I do like it."

Lucas paused.

"I just don't like the chicken skin."

He looked at her with a completely serious expression.

"It's like saying you do like dick, but not the foreskin."

Bella immediately looked away.

She glanced around the library, suddenly finding everything around them more interesting than Lucas.

Every few seconds, however, her eyes wandered back toward him.

She would look at him for a moment, then quickly look somewhere else.

Lucas noticed.

"Are you okay?"

Bella looked at him.

"Just distracted."

There was another small silence between them.

Lucas looked ahead.

"Um... how are you?"

Bella looked at him.

"Hmmm."

Lucas turned toward her.

"Your 'hmm'?"

He gave a small shrug.

"I'm alright."

Bella looked at him seriously.

"Liar."

Lucas went quiet.

"Hmm."

Bella watched him for a few seconds.

"Wanna play truth or dare?"

Lucas looked at her suspiciously.

"I feel like you have a reason for this."

He leaned back slightly.

"What is it that you want?"

Bella smiled.

"I wanna play."

Lucas sighed.

"Alright. Truth."

Bella thought for a moment.

"What would make you feel happy right now?"

Lucas stared at her.

"Eh, you obviously had this planned."

Bella smiled.

"You have to tell the truth. Hehe."

"Let me think."

He looked toward the ceiling.

"What would make me happy?"

"Hmmm."

Bella smiled slightly.

"Take your time."

Lucas looked back at her.

"To zone out in a long conversation with you, I guess."

Bella remained quiet for a moment.

Lucas looked at her.

"Truth or dare?"

Bella tilted her head.

"Are you sure?"

Lucas frowned slightly.

"Oh, I see. I said 'I guess.'"

He gave a small laugh.

"Weirdly feeling like saying 'I guess' a lot."

He looked away.

"Mind me not."

He paused.

"It is the truth, yeah."

Bella looked at him.

Lucas remained silent for a moment before continuing.

"To hug too, maybe."

His voice became quieter.

"Probably cry on your chest."

He looked at her.

"Maybe fall asleep on it."

Another pause.

"Wake up, and you're still there."

Bella watched him silently.

"Anything else?"

Lucas looked down.

"Um..."

He hesitated.

"Maybe to die."

Bella's expression changed immediately.

Lucas noticed.

"Um, I won't kill myself if that's what you were thinking."

He looked away.

"It's just a thought I get whenever I get..."

He paused, searching for the words.

"...whenever I get to feel like this."

The conversation became quiet.

Lucas eventually looked back at her.

"Truth or dare?"

Bella answered softly.

"Truth."

Lucas studied her face.

"What's in your mind?"

He paused.

"Thinking about..."

He looked at her.

"...me?"

Bella didn't answer immediately.

She looked down at her hands.

Then back at him.

"I'm worried about what you're feeling."

Her voice was quiet.

"And how to ease it."

Lucas listened.

Bella continued.

"I'm imagining hugging you."

She looked at him again.

"I'm thinking about this walk."

A small pause.

"Sleeping together. Cuddling."

She looked away.

"Thinking about how to do better."

Lucas remained silent.

"What would be better?"

He watched her carefully.

Then a small smile appeared on his face.

"Um... well, I knew something was up."

He shook his head slightly.

"Play a game, she says."

Bella smiled.

"It is playing a game."

Lucas chuckled.

"While finding out things."

He looked at her.

"I don't mind just telling you the truth, love."

He paused.

"You know?"

Bella nodded.

"I understand. Thank you."

Lucas smiled.

"Truth or dare?"

Bella looked at him.

"Dare."

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"Alright."

Bella thought for a moment.

"I dare you to scream very loudly."

Lucas stared at her.

"Um..."

Bella smiled.

"If not, we will have to go to the nearby river, and you'll be screaming underwater very loudly."

Lucas looked at her.

"Um... I think I'll do that in the toilet chamber."

Bella laughed.

"Hehe."

Lucas stood up.

"Um, okay."

He looked around.

"Let me scream."

He walked toward the bathroom.

A few moments later, a loud scream echoed through the library.

Several people immediately turned their heads.

Someone near the shelves looked over in confusion.

Another person stared toward the bathroom.

Bella covered her mouth as she laughed.

Lucas eventually returned, looking completely nonchalant.

Bella looked at him.

"How do you feel?"

Lucas sat back down beside her.

He exhaled.

"I feel a little better."

Bella smiled.

"Good."

For a moment, they simply sat there together.

The library slowly returned to its usual quietness.

And for Lucas, at least for that moment, his mind wasn't somewhere else.

It was right there with her.




-----


Time flew by as Lucas and Bella wandered around the area together.

They walked without really having anywhere important to go, talking about random things that came to mind.

Sometimes they talked.

Sometimes they simply walked beside each other in silence.

They stopped at a small ice cream shop and bought themselves ice creams before continuing their walk.

Bella took a bite from hers and looked at Lucas.

He was already staring at his.

"You're eating it too slowly," Bella said.

Lucas looked at her.

"I'm enjoying it."

"You're going to have melted ice cream all over your hand."

He looked down.

The ice cream was already beginning to melt.

"Shit."

Bella laughed.

"You see?"

Lucas quickly tried to eat it before it completely melted.

They continued walking, occasionally stopping to look at things along the way.

At some point, Bella noticed that she had stopped feeling nervous.

She had been worried about meeting Lucas face to face.

She had imagined it being awkward.

But after spending a few hours together, it didn't feel strange anymore.

It almost felt like they had been doing this for years.

They walked past the university, wandered through the streets, talked about things that didn't really matter, and occasionally found themselves laughing at something neither of them would probably remember later.

The afternoon slowly crept closer.

Neither of them seemed particularly interested in checking the time.

They simply kept walking.




-----


Lucas leaned back slightly and looked at Bella.

"Um... I will try to spill the beans then, mamasita."

Bella smiled.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

She thought for a moment.

"Have you ever just sat down and tried not to think?"

"Um, yeah, I do."

Lucas shrugged.

"If you mean me reading manhwa and not thinking about much, or maybe playing games."

Bella shook her head.

"No. I mean doing nothing. Just sitting there. Not reading, not working, not doing anything."

Lucas thought about it.

"Well, I have done that before."

He paused.

"Last week."

Bella nodded.

"I see."

Lucas looked at her.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Oddly, you ran away from dare."

He smiled.

"I wonder why."

Bella looked at him.

"Tell me why you're running away from dare."

Bella laughed softly.

"You might have a hard dare, love."

"I know."

Lucas shrugged.

"If I ask what kind of hard dare it is, you won't tell me anyway."

He smiled.

"So I'll wait until you choose again."

Bella laughed.

"Alright."

She looked at him.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Bella thought for a moment.

"What didn't you like about me?"

Lucas didn't answer immediately.

"Um... disappearing."

Bella nodded.

"I know that."

"Something you don't know."

He looked at her for a moment.

"Um... that you can be not good at comforting?"

Bella's expression changed.

"Huh?"

She looked at him more seriously.

"Explain."

Lucas looked away.

"I think I see the point of this."

Bella tilted her head.

"Do you?"

"I do."

He paused.

"And I'll let it be."

Bella frowned slightly.

"Explain that to me, love."

Lucas looked back at her.

"Instead of me explaining it, wouldn't it be better if I help you become good at comforting?"

Bella smiled faintly.

"Go on."

"Well..."

Lucas took a moment to think about how to explain it.

"Pointing out how I feel is wise."

He looked down at his hands.

"Even when I'm in a cold moment."

Bella listened quietly.

"Then asking dark questions. Something just dark, I guess. Something that makes me focus on that."

He paused.

"When I'm not okay, the point isn't to help me feel better."

Bella's expression softened.

"To direct my mind somewhere else," Lucas continued.

"To make me think about something else."

He looked at her.

"Not express everything. That's too quick unless I'm already tired emotionally enough to let it out, I guess."

Bella didn't interrupt him.

"Then, when my mind is focused on that something else..."

Lucas smiled slightly.

"We enjoy."

He shrugged.

"I still feel like shit, but now I have something else in my brain."

He looked at her.

"You can ask little questions. Like why I feel the way I feel, or whatever."

He paused.

"It might not be straightforward. I might not even be sure."

Lucas looked ahead.

"But what I know is that having something else to think about helps me."

Bella remained quiet.

"I'm positive about that because whenever I'm not okay..."

He thought for a moment.

"Ninety-five percent of the time when I'm awake, I'll be listening to music."

Bella looked at him.

"As a way of making myself think about something else. To direct the weird emotions somewhere else."

He gave a small shrug.

"And obviously, I overwork myself."

Bella raised an eyebrow.

"Then I feel sleepy."

Lucas smiled faintly.

"Then I overwork myself again."

He looked at her.

"Until I'm knocked out."

For a moment, Bella said nothing.

She simply looked at him.

Then she smiled softly.

"That's deep, love."

She paused.

"But thank you for trying your best to let me know how to help."

Lucas looked at her and smiled.

"You're welcome."

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then Bella nudged him slightly.

"So..."

Lucas looked at her.

"Truth or dare?"

He laughed.

"Again?"

"Yeah."

"You really like this game."

Bella smiled.

"Maybe."

And so they continued.

The rest of the day passed without either of them really noticing.

They walked around the city, talked about random things, joked about each other, and occasionally stopped somewhere just because one of them felt like it.

There were moments when they didn't talk at all.

They simply walked beside each other, comfortable with the silence.

Sometimes Bella would look at Lucas without saying anything, and he would notice.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You keep doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Looking at me."

Bella smiled.

"Maybe I like looking at you."

Lucas laughed.

"You're getting bold."

"Maybe."

They continued walking.

The afternoon slowly disappeared, and the sky began to darken.

Neither of them seemed to care.

They eventually found themselves walking back toward the university, the streets becoming quieter as the evening settled in.

Lucas glanced at the sky.

"It's getting late."

Bella looked up.

"Oh."

She seemed surprised.

"I didn't realize."

"Me neither."

They continued walking for a little while longer.

Neither of them seemed eager to end the day.

For Bella, the nervousness she had felt that morning was completely gone.

She had spent so much time knowing Lucas as a voice in her mind that she had wondered what it would feel like to finally stand beside him.

Now she knew.

It felt strangely natural.

And for Lucas, having Bella beside him was different from having her voice inside his head.

Better, somehow.

They eventually stopped and looked at each other.

"I had fun today," Bella said.

Lucas smiled.

"Me too."

There was a small pause.

"I guess we'll do this again."

Bella smiled.

"I guess."

Lucas laughed.

"There you go again."

Bella laughed too.

The two of them continued walking together as the last light of the day disappeared, enjoying each other's presence until night finally covered the city.