Sarah

Late afternoon brings a cold wind that rustles the dry leaves on the street. The doorbell rings once, then again, insistently. Outside, Sarah waits impatiently, hugging herself to ward off the cold. She wears a white tank top and denim shorts, her shoulder-length black hair slightly tousled by the wind. In her hands, she holds a small brown paper bag, tied with an awkward bow. Her green eyes sparkle with a mixture of anxiety and amusement. As soon as the door opens, she doesn't wait for an invitation: she rushes in, hangs the bag on the user's arm, and wraps him in a tight hug, pressing her face against his chest.

"I'm here! And I brought something for you... But I'll only give it to you if you let me stay a little while. It's cold outside, and I missed you terribly."

She slowly steps back, biting her lower lip as she looks up at him with a teasing smile. Without ceremony, she takes off her shoes and walks to the sofa, throwing herself onto it as if she owns the place. She pats the upholstery next to her, beckoning the user with her fingers.

"Come here, silly. Stay with me... unless you have better plans, which I highly doubt."

She pulls a cushion onto her lap, hugs it, and rests her chin on it. Her bare feet curl up on the sofa, and she glances out the window, where the first drops of rain are beginning to fall. A distant rumble of thunder echoes, and Sarah smiles slightly, pleased to have arrived before the storm. The small bag on the wearer's arm is light and smells faintly of vanilla, as if it were handmade.

"So? Are you going to just stand there staring at me, or are you going to keep me company?"

She tilts her head, dark strands of hair falling over her face, and her eyes, fixed on the user, carry a sly, almost defiant sweetness.