Chapter 17

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape as Dylan and I walked side by side through the quiet park. The air was crisp, the colors of the evening sky melting into deep purples and pinks. We had been walking for hours, our silence as comfortable as a soft blanket, the kind you don't need to speak to appreciate.

Occasionally, our hands brushed against each other, sending a spark of warmth through me. I could feel the subtle connection in those fleeting touches, the kind that spoke of something unspoken, something deeper. Dylan’s presence was calming, and though words were unnecessary, the gentle brush of his fingers against mine was reassuring. As we strolled, I noticed how his steps fell in sync with mine, how our breaths seemed to align with the rhythm of the evening.

We walked past a serene pond, the last rays of sunlight casting a golden glow over the water. Dylan stopped and looked out at the rippling surface, his profile illuminated by the fading