Fara's house was barely lit by a lamp hanging next to the door. The street, silent, seemed to hold its breath as they stopped in front of the entrance.
“Thank you for walking me home,” she said, adjusting her cloak.
Uzziel nodded but didn't step back.
Fara turned the key and pushed the door, but before she could enter, Uzziel reached out and held her hand. It wasn't a brusque gesture; it was almost timid, as if he doubted whether he even had the right to stop her.
She turned to him, surprised.
Uzziel looked at her for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. The dim light cast soft shadows on his face and made his red eyes seem more vulnerable than ever.
He swallowed.
“Fara…” his voice came out lower than usual. “I…”
The words got stuck in his throat. The memory of her walking awa
