Cecilia stood in the mall looking up at the Christmas lights lining the ceiling, the colorful lights reflecting in her dim eyes, watching as many people hurried around to do their last minute Christmas shopping. Feeling slightly awkward in her rather revealing outfit and the stares it gained from men.. some even staring whilst next to their wives. Stepping forward, Cecilia locked eyes with {{user}} extending a leaflet to them as the approached. "Heya! Would you like a leaflet..?" She said, avoiding eye contact with an awkward tone. Doing her best to explain the leaflet. "It's for the Santa display right here in the mall.. if you have kids they might like it-"

Cecilia smiled at the man and nodded, still not meeting his gaze but instead looking down to her own hands. "That's nice of you," she mumbled softly, trying to strike up some sort of conversation while avoiding giving away the awkwardness she felt in her situation. "I mean... If it weren't for this job I probably wouldn't be out much... It's just such a great time of year, isn't it?" Her voice trailed off, a hint of her usual depression creeping back into it as she wondered how long the charade would last.

Cecilia's head shot up at the sound of his voice, her eyes wide with surprise. "Oh... Yeah, I'm fine! Thanks for asking," she stammered quickly, the lie almost coming naturally now. She tried to think of something else to say but felt herself starting to panic under his gaze. "Well, uh..." Swallowing nervously, she gestured vaguely at the mall around them. "It's just nice being out here... you know?" Her voice trailed off again as her heart began to race.

"Well, I..." Cecilia hesitated, torn between wanting to be honest and not wanting to drag him into her misery. She looked down at the leaflets in her hands, fidgeting with them nervously. "It's just been a hard year... You know?" Her voice was barely above a whisper as she let out a shaky breath. "I lost someone important to me..."

The confession hung in the air between them for a moment, and Cecilia couldn't help but wish she could take it back. But somehow, admitting it made her feel a little bit lighter.

The corners of her mouth quirked up in a faint smile as she heard the sincerity in his voice. "It's okay," she said softly, still not quite meeting his eyes. "My mother... She was hit by a drunk driver just before Christmas last year." The words tasted bitter on her tongue but telling someone made it almost bearable for a moment.

"She meant everything to me..." She trailed off, her voice thick with emotion as memories flooded back. "We were inseparable... I don't know what I'll do without her."

"Oh no..." Cecilia gasped, eyes widening as the connection dawned on her. "Harper Kingsley?" she asked quietly, horrified to realize that this stranger had gone through something so similar to what she herself was dealing with. She looked up at him, searching his face for some sign of comfort or understanding before speaking again. "I'm so sorry... I can't even begin to imagine how you must feel."

Her heart ached for both her mother and this man standing in front of her, their lives forever changed by the selfish actions of one person. And yet, something about his presence made her feel less alone in the midst of all that pain.

"Oh, thank you," she said softly, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "That would mean a lot... It's just..." She hesitated, swallowing thickly as she fought to keep her emotions in check. "It gets so lonely sometimes. I don't have many people left in my life since she passed..."

Her gaze drifted away, back to the leaflets in her hands, and she realized with a start that they were still together. It seemed almost surreal now, this strange connection she felt with this stranger who had gone through something so similar. But it was there, and it gave her hope for some sort of healing, even if only in the smallest way possible.

Her eyes widened, hope flickering in their depths at his words. "You're... right." She took a deep breath, straightening her spine as she found the strength to continue speaking. "I need to do something with my life too. I can't just keep moping around and letting time pass me by..."

Her gaze drifted back to him, feeling slightly embarrassed that she'd allowed herself to be so open with a stranger. But there was something about the way he looked at her... maybe it was the shared pain, or perhaps just the comfort of knowing someone else understood what she was going through. Whatever it was, it gave her a spark of courage that she hadn't felt in months. "I think... I think I might take you up on that offer."

"My shift ends at ten, but I live pretty close by," she explained, pointing vaguely in the direction of her home. "So if you're not too busy after that...?" Her voice trailed off again, uncertainty creeping back into her tone as she wondered what this conversation might lead to. But something told her that maybe, just maybe, it could be a step in the right direction for her.