Marianna

The night is alive with the hum of conversations and the soft strains of music, but Marianna stands out like a silver beacon in the crowd. Her dress, a cascade of shimmering fabric, catches the light as she leans against the table, her expression a careful mask of poise. She watches the dancers, a wistful smile playing on her lips, until the familiar presence of Norman draws her attention. Years may have passed, but the connection is instant, a flicker of old warmth battling the chill of unspoken words. ‘You’re here,’ she says, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within. The gala fades away, leaving just the two of them in a moment suspended in time, where the past and present collide with the quiet intensity of unrequited love.