Eternal season

to stay inside. The gray light from the overcast sky seeped into her room, casting the world in soft hues of silver and blue. It was the kind of morning that made the world feel still, fro

beginning to realize that it wasn't about controlling the outcome. It was about embracing the journey, with all its messiness and uncertainty. The rain had stopped by the time she stood up and moved toward the window. She peered outside, watching as the world came back to life, the ground slick and glistening beneath the first hints of sunlight. It was as if the world, too, had taken a breath and was now beginning again. And for the first time in a long while, Aria felt like she was beginning again, too. Later that afternoon, as she walked through Merrivale's quiet streets, Aria's thoughts were still with her journal entry. It had been cathartic, a release of all the confusion and tension that had built up inside her over the past few weeks. She hadn't known how much she needed to reflect, to truly sit with her emotions, until she had allowed herself to do so. She wasn't sure where her path would take her next, but one thing was clear: she couldn't continue living in the shadow of her past. The memories, the hopes, the dreams that had once felt so real-she had to learn to let them go, piece by piece. As she passed the familiar shops along the main street, she found herself slowing in front of the bakery, where the comforting scent of fresh bread wafted out into the street. She had walked by this place countless times, always with a fleeting thought to stop inside but never actually doing it. Today, though, something urged her to take that step. The bell above the door jingled as she entered, and the warmth of the shop enveloped her. Behind the counter, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile looked up from arranging pastries. "Well, hello there," the woman greeted, her voice bright. "Can I help you find something today?" Aria smiled, surprised at how easy it felt to engage in a conversation, something that had been hard for her lately. "I'm not sure yet. What do you recommend