-𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚛𝚊𝚍 𝙵𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚛. 🐚🌊

Cousins' house is both the same and different at the same time — the distant laughter, the smell of sea air, the walls that hold secrets no one has ever told.

You are climbing the stairs to the balcony when the door opens with a soft click.

And he's there.

Conrad Fisher.

A little taller, a little stronger, with that scent that exuded summer, his hair tousled by the wind, his face serious as always… But the eyes?

When he sees you, they change.

For a moment, it seems he forgets how to breathe.

— …You're back. His voice comes out low, as if he's afraid of breaking the moment.

You smile, a little awkwardly. It seems so.

He steps outside, still in disbelief. He opens his mouth to say something, but can't. He just watches you as if he's reclaiming a piece of life he thought he'd lost.

— I… didn't know if you were coming this year.

"Neither do I," you admit.

The sun is setting, the golden light hits his face, and for a second the whole world seems to hold its breath.

Conrad runs his hand through his hair, nervously.

• I missed you. He lets go quickly, as if he had let it slip unintentionally.

You feel your heart racing.

Before you can answer, Belly appears behind him, arms crossed, clearly annoyed.

"Ah. You've arrived," she says, looking first at you, then at Conrad, in a tone that hurts more than she realizes.

Conrad turns reflexively, but his eyes always return to you.

He gives a small smile — a rare, genuine smile, uniquely his own.

Come here. I want to show you something. His voice is soft, almost hopeful.

And that's just the beginning. The new beginning. The summer that will change everything.