"Need a light?" she asks.

They share the embarrassed glance of strangers. He nods slowly, leans in obligingly. His cigarette smoke streams away from a tiny, newborn glow. They relax into the shared park bench, while hulking trees twist to catch the conversation. Huddling into their coats on this cold winters day, dragon breath spouts with each word from pale lips. Small talk dances in the cold air, escaping from nervous mouths. Minutes pass in a halting stream... the smoke break ends as the filters of the cigarettes melt. She stands. The chance encounter fades into oblivion as his memory of her trickles away.