The love we couldn't keep

along the two-lane road. Daniel sat beside her, his eyes focused on the winding path ahead, one hand loosely resting on th

t heard i

wrapped in something new. Fami

" she asked lightly, try

ook the wrong exit once. You y

te herself. "You

eing con

ocky and you got

ckled. "Ok

pines and red maples. By the time they pulled into the gravel driveway, the sun wa

first dreamed of escaping here after graduation. Back when love was

elf as she took in the small fireplace, the creaky wooden floors, the cozy couch cov

cked the

like Pinot Noir,

im. "Why did yo

is was the version of our life we never got. The

her throa

y talked softly over the fire, laughter threading in with the crackling of

the unspoken weight of wha

nto the flames. Her arms were wrapped in a chu

her slowly, quietl

have come," s

u regr

said too

nd, slow and sure. "T

idn't p

ed her cheek, brushing his thumb jus

"Even when I tried to forget. Even when I

e edges of her lash

oke m

ut in a slow unraveling of every emotion left unsaid. His hands slid into her

y wrapping around his waist as he carried h

bed like she was something precious-like the years hadn't hardened

r was explored with reverence, as though he were memorizing her all over again.

g. He kissed her again, deeper this time-hungry but st

like people rediscovering a language they'd forgotten-every kiss, every to

ke coming home. She gasped into his shoulder, her nails digging i

you," she

her temple

m, but here, everything burned hotter-sheets tangled, breathless moans caught between kisses. Y

a dam breaking. Amara clung to him, tears slipping silently from the cor

dreaming of thi

er ha

ch other, the silence between

en she woke and felt the steady beat of his

more th

e they never s