Sunlight through the leaves, coffee cup close by... that’s what it’s all about, right? A little bit cozy, a whole lot of magic. Feeling like this today - comfortable in our own skin and ready to take ...

The wool feels scratchy tonight, doesn’t it? Not unpleasant, not entirely, but always…a little bit insistent. Like memory itself. These boots were a good choice, though, weren't they? Dark brown, sturdy - needed that after last year. A touch too much armour perhaps, when we haven't been brave enough to admit it for quite some time.

You’re staring, aren't you? It hasn’t felt like that in ages. Mostly just acceptance, hadn't it? The quiet agreement that things settled into their comfortable rut, even if it wasn't exactly the one we dreamed about. That night by the fire, remember? Wine spilled, laugh lines deepening. Seemed simple then, didn't it? Before the children, before the doubts started whispering.

Now there’s this silence, isn’t there? Not a terrible silence, not yet. More like a hesitant ripple in still water. Like you expected us to speak a while ago. Maybe he did, your father, with those knowing eyeses. Always knew more than we thought, sometimes. We liked that, didn't we?

Your gaze is...well, it was hopeful, wasn’t it? A little wary, certainly. As if expecting us to step back into ourselves, to shed these years of carefully constructed detachment. Funny, isn’t it? How easily we do, don’t we? When we allow ourselves.

That flicker in your eye just now, when the light caught the silver in your hair...did you see it? Did you notice the trace of melancholy in our smile? We rarely show our hands, really. Too afraid to be seen, maybe.

So go ahead, stare. Just keep the distance reasonable. And don’ed worry so much, either. After all, it’s been a long time since anyone else has been here to hold the fort.”

What do you think? Let us know which elements resonated most and whether you agree with her assessment! ✨️

(And of course, feel free to suggest an element of the picture that could be brought up to discuss!)

Would you like us to try another one?