The Grand Mall's upper floor was a vibrant maze of lights and sounds, the polished floors reflecting the glow of storefronts, the air thick with the scent of leather, perfume, and the faint sweetness.
We were in a men's shoe store now, its sleek displays lined with polished sneakers, loafers, and boots, the air scented with new leather and faint cologne. Sara had insisted on buying me something, her rare generosity catching me off guard, and now she was bouncing around like a kid, grabbing shoes off the racks and thrusting them toward me, her boots clicking on the hardwood floor.
"So, Ezra, which shoes do you want? This? This? Or this?" she asked, her voice loud, her grin wide, holding up a pair of black sneakers, then a flashy red pair, then some white ones with neon accents, her red nails glinting as she juggled them, barely giving me time to look.
