tendrils of smoke vacate my lips,

vapors trailing along my eyelashes,

fluttering like a butterfly between my lungs.

he complains about the overpowering scent, how it dominates the attention of anyone around, suffocating his senses, lingering for hours.

dusk settled upon our shoulders, hours passing in mere seconds. the oranges, pinks, and reds that stained the sky moments before, fade to a dark indigo.

a simple "sorry" brushes past my lips as I push the cigarette down into the concrete ground, embers flitting about, akin to fireflies.

he shrugs, trying to convey a composed and nonchalant manner, though I knew he wasn't anticipating my straightforward apology.

I grasp onto my lighter and a cigarette once more, hoping to see a repeat of embers that remind me of a stars glow.