The Grand Mall buzzed with the lively hum of evening shoppers, the upper floor a whirlwind of bright lights, chattering voices, and the faint jingle of pop music drifting from storefronts. The restaurant's warm glow was behind us, the plates of cold pasta and burger scraps cleared, the pile of shopping bags now heavier as we ventured back into the chaos of retail.
My white sneakers tapped on the polished floor, my long black shirt and t-shirt swaying as I held the trolley filled with bags.
Aeri and Sara walked beside me and soon we found ourselves in a heels shop, its sleek displays lined with glittering stilettos, chunky platforms, and delicate sandals, the air scented with new leather and faint perfume. The bags from earlier purchases—clothes, accessories, more shoes—were piled at my feet, and I sighed, slumping onto a plush couch, with my Iced Latte in my hand, which I brought just now
