C88 Feeling heavy

The moon hung low over the garden pond, its pale light rippling across the surface like a restless heartbeat. Arun sat on the edge of the stone walkway, elbows on his knees, his fingers loosely gripping a cigarette that had long since gone out.

He wasn’t really looking at the water—more like staring through it. The reflection that stared back was unfamiliar: eyes shadowed, jaw tense