We stepped onto the terrace, and he gestured toward the horizon.
“The ocean… It helps me think.”
I leaned on the railing, taking in the peaceful sound of the waves crashing in the distance.
“It’s beautiful here…”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“We’ll take it one step at a time,” he reassured me.
We sat down on the terrace with lemonade, talking about our past.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You know, I never really stopped thinking about you, Emily,” Daniel said quietly. “You brought something to my life back then… something I’ve missed.”
I didn’t know how to respond. Part of me wanted to believe him, but another part knew I had too many broken pieces to fix.
“I… I don’t know, Daniel. It’s all a bit much right now.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“That’s okay,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “We don’t have to figure it all out tonight. Just know that I’m here for you.”
That evening, I felt like I could breathe again. But deep down, I knew that escape was temporary. Reality was waiting for me back home, and sooner or later, I’d have to face it.
The sun was barely up when Daniel knocked on my door.
“Hey, how about we start with some tennis before breakfast?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
He held up two rackets, giving me a playful look. I put on a sporty look and followed Daniel out to the garden. His backyard was enormous, with tall trees framing the court.
“Don’t worry,” he said, handing me a racket. “I’ll teach you.”
I tried to follow his instructions, but the ball still flew wildly to the side.
“Not bad for a first shot,” he teased.
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I laughed, feeling a little lighter. We spent the next hour playing, mostly with him showing me the ropes while I missed most of my shots. But it was fun.
Afterward, we set up breakfast on the grass. Daniel spread out a blanket and opened a basket packed with sandwiches, fresh fruit, and lemonade.
“You know how to plan a day,” I said, surprised.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney