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“Your services are no longer required for trash duty. Our disposal system has been upgraded,” the announcement echoed in my ears. Relief washed over me. The task had always felt like a curse—mundane, heavy, and dull. Now, that weight was lifted. I couldn’t help but smile.
I left work with a newfound lightness. The day had been long, but the evening ahead offered a promise of peace. As I turned the corner onto the winding road, there she was, waiting for me as she always did. Her face lit up with that familiar, radiant smile.
We walked in comfortable silence, the road curving gently before us. To our left, the river valley shimmered beneath the soft glow of the setting sun, while the hilly forest to our right whispered with the sounds of rustling leaves and unseen creatures. The world felt quiet, as if it, too, had been waiting for this moment.
I slipped my arm around her waist, drawing her closer. "I love you," I whispered, the words pouring out like an old melody I could never forget.
She leaned into me, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. "I love you too," she murmured, her voice a balm to the ache I had been carrying in her absence.
It had been too long since we last walked together, and I felt the distance that had stretched between us. But now, it was as if time had stopped. We spoke softly, sharing the thoughts and emotions that had gone unsaid for far too long. Her presence filled the hollow spaces within me, and I could feel the same unspoken longing in her.
As we reached a high stone wall that ran along the ridge, we paused to take in the view. The trail led us along the edge, the valley sprawling beneath us like a painting. But as we tried to descend, we realized the drop was too steep to jump from safely.
I glanced at her, a silent decision forming. Without hesitation, I leapt, landing softly on the ground below. I turned and extended my hand, waiting. She hesitated for only a moment before jumping, trusting me to catch her. I did, pulling her into my arms, and together, we continued our journey, side by side.
When I awoke, the dream lingered. It left a warmth in my chest and a sense of awe in my mind. I wished to return to that dream, to stay there forever, where the world felt simpler, and she was always by my side.
