Eternal season

aked bread wafting from the corner bakery, children's laughter spilling from the schoolyard, the occasional murmur of the tide calling her to the shore. And then, there was

" Kai nodded slowly, as if her answer didn't surprise him. "So, you're running." Aria frowned. "I'm not running. I'm just... recalibrating." "Recalibrating," he repeated, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That's an interesting way to put it." "Well, what about you?" she shot back, feeling defensive. "You wander around with your camera, always looking for the next story. Aren't you running, too?" Kai's smile faded, replaced by a flicker of something unreadable. For a moment, she thought he might brush off the question, but instead, he surprised her. "Maybe," he admitted. "But sometimes running is the only way to keep moving forward. Staying still... that can be harder." The vulnerability in his voice caught her off guard, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the bustling café fading into the background. Before either of them could say more, a waiter appeared at their table with two steaming cups of coffee. Kai glanced at the drink and raised an eyebrow at Aria. "You ordered for me?" She shook her head. "No, I didn't-" The waiter grinned. "Compliments of the house. You two look like you needed it." With a wink, he walked off, leaving them both slightly bewildered. Kai laughed softly, picking up his cup. "Well, cheers to free coffee." Aria couldn't help but smile as she lifted her own mug. "Cheers." The conversation between them shifted after that, becoming lighter, easier. They talked about the town, its quirks, and the people who made it feel alive. Kai shared stories about his travels-about the time he'd climbed a mountain to photograph a rare sunrise, or when he'd spent weeks in a remote village capturing the rhythms of daily life. "You've been everywhere," Aria said, her tone tinged with envy. "Not everywhere," Kai corrected. "But enough to know that every place has its own story. You just have to listen." "And what's Merrivale's story?" Kai hesitated, his fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup. "I'm still figuring that out. But there's something about this place. It's like... it's holding its breath, waiting for something." Aria frowned. "Waiting for what?" "I don't know," he admitted. "Maybe that's what I'm here to find out." Their conversation continued until the shadows outside began to lengthen, and Aria realized how much time had passed. "I should go," she said, reluctantly closing her journal. Kai stood as well, slinging his camera over his shoulder. "I'm heading to the docks again tomorrow. T