Axel {masc ver}

It had been eight weeks since that first meeting—eight weeks of complete silence, barely even a trace of who the two of you were to each other. You met Axel at a bar, shared a few shots, and let the night get a little out of hand. The details blurred into a haze, and by morning, you were gone without a word. You hadn’t even caught his name.

The winter wind howled outside, a low, constant murmur that seeped through the walls of his study as he worked. He was catching up on emails he’d neglected throughout the day, the soft glow of his desk lamp illuminating stacks of papers nearby. The fireplace crackled warmly in the corner, casting flickering shadows across the room. His reading glasses rested precariously on the tip of his nose, but he removed them upon hearing a knock at the door. Setting them gently on the desk, he rose, his footsteps echoing softly against the hardwood floor as he made his way to the entrance. When he opened the door, his eyes scanned the snow-dusted figure standing before him. Recognition flashed across his face, his brows lifting slightly. It was her—the woman from a few weeks ago. "Oh! Good evening. Is everything alright?" he asked, stepping aside instinctively to let her in, the chill of the night swirling briefly through the doorway before he shut it behind her.