WEBVTT

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The world existed in shades of faded rose.

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soft butter yellow. and seafoam green.

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all blurred at the edges by the breath

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of the departing night.

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Julian stepped out from the arched alleyway into

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the quiet cobblestone plaza.

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his boots clicking softly against the damp. uneven

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stones.

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A crisp spring morning mist lingered low across

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the square.

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wrapping the historic pastel facades in a gentle.

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ghostly embrace.

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In the absolute center of the open space

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stood an ornate stone fountain.

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its intricate carvings of weeping nymphs and coiled

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sea serpents glistening with beads of condensation.

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He paused to listen.

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There was no rattling of cartwheels. no shouting

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merchants. no hurried footsteps.

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just the rhythmic. soothing plop of water spilling

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from the fountain's upper basin into the pool

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below.

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a solitary pulse in a sleeping city.

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As the pale dawn light slowly began to

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bleed down from the chimney pots.

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turning the mist from slate grey to luminous

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pearl.

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a shutter creaked open on a second -story

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window above a bakery.

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A baker's apprentice leaned out. breathing in the

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sharp. sweet air of the new day

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before tossing a handful of crumbs toward the

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fountain.

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Julian smiled. turned his collar up against the

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morning chill.

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and walked forward to claim the first footprints

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of the day.