Morning came with silence. The storm had passed, leaving the orchard glistening with dew. Emily woke early, expecting a knock at her door, a message, something. But when she stepped outside, the world was still, too still.
On her doorstep was an envelope. Her name was written neatly in Jake's familiar hand.
Emily,
I need to face what I left unfinished. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but please believe me when I say this isn't goodbye. You've been the calm I've searched for all my life. I'll come back to you when I've earned the right to stay.
-Jake
Her hands trembled as she read it. The words were gentle but final. She pressed the letter to her chest and felt the quiet ache settle deep inside her.
Days became weeks, and weeks became months. Winter covered Willow Creek in a soft hush. Emily threw herself into her teaching, into books and long walks by the frozen river.
