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- 38 -
Winter had settled in that deep place where the wind cut through the warmth and touched bone. But it wasn't all despair. People were constantly upbeat and chattering about shopping that needed to be done. All of the food was hot, and the smell of spices overpowered the usual car exhaust. Cheery music was filtering out of every store.
The song currently weaving its way to their bench was a song Gill found particularly annoying. He grumbled dismissively about it, and Angela smiled. She silently handed him one of her earbuds.
A little unsure, Gill rubbed it on his sleeve and carefully placed it in his ear. It was too quiet, so Angela turned up the volume as loud as can be before it would be painful. She hid the screen of her phone from him where she had selected a song. "It's my favorite."
Gill didn't know why, but he thought it was going to be some kind of kitschy pop number if it was supposed to be her favorite song. But slow, steady piano built up in sad, nostalgic notes. It echoed in his one ear and seemed to consume his negative emotions, melting him. Muted and distant. Like walking on the ocean floor.
Angela gauged his reaction in bubbling worry. The song ended, and she hit pause to stop it from shuffling to a new track. Gill seemed to wake up, looking down at her phone. He gestured, holding a hand over his ear that didn't have the music. "Play it again."
She happily nodded and put it on repeat. She let out a content sigh as she watched the street, their shoulders relaxing against one another in order to be close enough for the string of the song to connect them.