Echoes in the Blue

The chlorine scent still clings to my skin, a ghost of summer afternoons. It’s funny, isn't it? How a simple splash can hold so much – the echo of laughter, a forgotten touch.

He wasn’t always here, watching me from the edge of the pool. Just… one day he was, and now his presence is like a warm current beneath the surface. I used to swim alone, chasing away shadows with strokes that felt more like escapes.

Today, it's different. The water feels softer, somehow, reflecting not just the sky but a hint of him in its depths. He doesn’t speak much, just offers a quiet smile as I resurface.

It’s not grand gestures or dramatic declarations; it's something… gentler. Like finding a smooth stone warmed by the sun – small, comforting, and utterly perfect.
I let my hair fall across my face, tilting my head back to drink in the sunlight. Perhaps this isn’t about finding someone new, but remembering how to feel truly seen.

And maybe, just maybe, that's a warmth more potent than any summer sun.