Sunlight through the leaves and that perfect cozy knit - feels like autumn has finally arrived! Spent the day wandering without a care in the world, just wrapped up in our little bubble here at home. ...

The wool feels scratchy tonight, doesn’t it? Not unpleasant – not always. It used to be so comforting, this grey cashmere, felted with memory. Like being wrapped in smoke after rain. But lately...lately everything has a little too much texture. A little too much need for attention.

See those creases around your eyes, then? The ones you thought were invisible. We hadn’t noticed them until recently, had we? Just assumed they’d been there all along, like dust motes dancing in the light - easily overlooked. Or perhaps we didn’t want to notice. Too painful sometimes, these things.

We haven’t spoken in weeks, really. Well, not really spoken. More of a rustle of skirts when you passed by yesterday morning, a slight turn of the head to catch sight of your boots. A smallness, maybe. We’ve certainly grown accustomed to it over the years, this quiet space between us. Almost comfortable, if we let ourselves admit it.

You're staring, aren't you? That familiar gaze, hesitant but insistent. Like you remembered something good, even though we both know it wasn’t necessarily true. Did he say yes? To the thing we weren't brave enough to name, back then. Did the wine ever quite run out?

It’s alright, isn', isn't it? Relax your shoulders. This hasn't gone off completely without a trace. Remember the scent of pine needles, drifting in from the garden? And the way the firelight caught your hair…?

Now, don't stand there twirling your laces. Smile, will you? Not an easy one, not yet. Just a hint, a flicker. After all, it's been a while since we looked each other in the eye."

Let us know what you think! Do you love the feeling of this first take? Any particular lines or elements you especially enjoyed?

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To help us refine it, here’s the image: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/61/9f/48/619f4807523b8ddc7e9a5bbcaee61dfd.jpg