Eventually, we both decided that it was getting late. I stood up from my chair and stretched out before reaching for the door handle. Ariana followed suit, standing up from her own chair.

Once the two of us were standing, we made our way through the doorway of the bedroom and towards the staircase, heading downstairs towards the front door.

As we emerged from the staircase, we walked across the living room to the side hallway that led to the kitchen. I opened the front door as Ariana stepped outside, closing it behind her after I had exited. I turned to face her once I was completely outside, waiting for...