Our first date was at a tiny Italian restaurant, candlelight flickering on the table. I talked too much—nervous, rambling about my job, my dog, anything to fill the silence. When I…
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The first time I noticed the ring, we were sitting on the vine-wrapped bench, Marisol’s black curly hair falling over her shoulder as she stirred her iced tea. The sunlight caught something…
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Spring had unfurled in the park, and the vine-wrapped bench was now framed by daffodils and tulips—all except one spot, right beside the ivy plant we’d buried for Marisol’s grandma, where a…
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The first light of dawn painted the Greek coast in soft gold, and I sat on a weathered stone wall, my sketchbook open, watching the fishing boats glide back to shore. That’s…
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The gym smelled like chalk and lavender—an odd mix, but one that felt like home. I adjusted my purple gymnastic wristbands, the fabric soft against my skin, and walked toward the balance…
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The summer sun streamed through the gym’s windows, turning the ivy-covered bench golden, as Lila and I spread a blue blanket on the floor—matching the gym’s walls—and dumped a pile of craft…
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The morning sun spilled over our beach house porch, gilding the lavender plants we’d planted last spring and catching the edge of the six-pack towel hanging on the wall. Lila was bent…
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The first light of dawn gilded the beach, turning the sand to liquid gold and painting the waves in soft pinks and oranges. I stood on the porch of our beach house,…
Read More The morning breeze carried the scent of lavender from our porch as I flipped through my sketchbook, pausing at the drawing of Lila and Shell on the beach. I’d just added the…
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The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in soft purples and oranges, when Nikos carried a pitcher of homemade citrus wine to the edge of the swimming pool. “Careful—it’s…
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