The Gift of Seconds
The next morning, the watch sat on the counter, ticking steadily. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Sloane picked it up, tears blurring her vision. "It's working."
"It is," Elias said, his heart heavy. He expected her to say goodbye, to catch the next flight to a different continent.
Instead, Sloane took the watch and pinned it to Elias's apron.
"I've spent my life chasing time," she said, stepping into his space. "But I think I'd rather share it with someone who knows how to make it count."
Elias smiled, the most timeless expression he possessed. He turned the "Closed" sign on the door, and for once, he didn't care what time it was.