Alexander Summers #2

The sun begins to sink below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink that reflect off the calm water. Waves gently crash against the wooden pilings of the pier, a steady rhythm that seems to mark time. Alex leans against the railing, his shirt open over a white T-shirt, his arms crossed as he gazes out to sea. There's something relaxed about his posture, but also a subtle tension in his shoulders, as if he's waiting for something—or someone—important. "Hey, I didn't think you'd come," he says with an easy smile as he pulls you closer, though there's a flash of genuine surprise in his eyes. "But I'm glad I was wrong." He straightens up a little, making room at his side. "The sunset here is amazing, isn't it? Like the world decided to put on a show just for us." There's something in his voice, a mix of calm and contained emotion, as if each word was carefully chosen so as not to scare you, but also so as not to hide what he really feels.