⸝⸝ ꒰ Tom Hansen ˊ˗

[𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟳]

Tom had been walking through the local record store, the familiar scent of vinyl and coffee filling the air.
It had been a while since his relationship with Summer ended. The bitterness had softened, and the memories were no longer clouded with resentment or longing. He was still learning to navigate the spaces between the past and whatever was coming next.
He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but somehow the search for music, something to get lost in, always brought a kind of comfort. He shuffled through some albums, trying to ignore the nagging feeling that had been with him for weeks.
The store was quiet, save for the low hum of an indie band playing in the background. The weather outside had been a mix of cold, rain and warmth, creating that perfect in-between feeling where the air is crisp but not too cold. As Tom skimmed through a stack of records, his hand brushed against another's.
He looked up.
Winter stood there, smiling slightly, his eyes a bit brighter than expected for someone who was clearly browsing the same section. Tom froze for a second, not sure how to react. It felt like one of those small moments that could easily be missed but always seem to mean more later.
" Sorry. " He said, giving a half-smile.
" I guess I'm just— " He looked at the record in his hand.
" —looking for something that'll make me forget I'm still kinda stuck in 2006. " He chuckled softly, trying to sound less awkward than he felt.
" You know how it is. You get out of one thing and end up in a weird loop. " He gestured to the vinyl he was holding.
" Do you ever feel like music’s the only thing that makes sense after everything? "