29/01/2025
Whispers of the Ocean
Sophie had always loved the ocean. She spent her summers in a quiet coastal town, painting seascapes and collecting seashells. This summer felt different, though—lonelier. Her grandmother had passed away, leaving behind the small beach cottage where Sophie now stayed alone.
One evening, as the sun melted into the horizon, Sophie wandered along the shore. The wind carried the scent of salt and something else—lavender. Turning, she saw a man standing by the rocks, sketching the waves in a leather-bound notebook.
He looked up and smiled. "You're Sophie, right?"
She frowned slightly. "Do I know you?"
He chuckled. "I’m Daniel. I used to visit my grandfather here when we were kids. You once gave me a seashell and told me it held the sound of the ocean."
Sophie gasped as the memory surfaced—two children, a stormy afternoon, and a promise made beneath a lighthouse. "Daniel… you moved away."
"And now I’m back," he said, stepping closer. "For the summer, at least."
Over the next few weeks, they walked along the shore, reminiscing and creating new memories. Daniel sketched while Sophie painted, their worlds intertwining like the tide and the shore. Each day, her heart felt lighter, and the cottage no longer seemed so empty.
One night, under a full moon, Daniel led her to the lighthouse. "I never forgot our promise," he whispered, pulling out a small seashell. "You said the ocean would always bring us back together."
Sophie smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. "And it did."
As the waves kissed the shore, he leaned in, and their lips met—soft, warm, and filled with the magic of a love that had waited for the right tide to return.