WEBVTT

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The rain had finally dissolved into a heavy,

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misting stillness,

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leaving the old quarter washed in silver and

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shadow.

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Elina wheeled her sturdy hybrid bicycle through the

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heavy iron archway,

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the tires hissing softly against the damp, uneven

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ground.

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She loved this hidden courtyard at midnight,

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tucked away from the thrumming neon arteries of

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the city,

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existing in a pocket of quiet time all

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its own.

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She propped the kickstand down,

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letting the vehicle lean gently against the weathered

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stone wall.

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Above her, an ornate raw tyron lantern cast

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a warm, amber halo that bled into the

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damp air,

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sending a faint, flickering glow dancing across the

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wet cobblestones below.

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Every detail of the metal frame caught the

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amber light,

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the brushed texture of the handlebars, the neat

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alignment of the gear cogs,

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and the quiet dignity of a machine built

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for both rugged trails and slick urban streets.

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Elina unzipped her jacket, breathing in the scent

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of damp moss, old brick, and rain -cooled

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air.

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She sat on a low stone bench, pulling

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a thermos from her bag

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and listening to the faint drip of water

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from a distant eaves trough.

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The bicycle stood sentinel beside her, a steadfast

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companion through countless night rides,

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resting in the peaceful hush of the courtyard

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until dawn broke and the world began to

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move again.