This Moment

Rukia fiddled with her fingers surreptitiously. Her lips were dry; she licked them.

How long had it been?

She willed herself to look up and failed. A dry gulp nearly gagged her; since when had she felt so overwhelmingly nervous?

The release of his fingers, the look in his eyes, the separation from each other.

The students filed past her. She counted sandaled feet marching past, and instinctively knew when to look up.

“Hey Renji.”

“Kuchiki-dono, good afternoon.”

As she watched the class stride down the corridor, she blinked the sting of tears away from her large eyes.