It wasn’t sudden, like the dramatic tales of soulmates they’d heard growing up. It wasn’t fiery or overwhelming. It was slow and steady, like a seed planted in fertile soil, growing into something strong and unshakable. Their love was quiet, born of shared vulnerability and a connection that went beyond words.
“I think I loved you long before I realized it,” Willow said one day, her voice barely above a whisper. They were lying side by side on the soft ground, staring up at the swirling sky. “This place... it strips everything else away. What’s left is just us.”
Linus turned his head to look at her, a soft smile curving his lips. “You’ve been my anchor here,” he said. “Without you, I think I’d have been swallowed by this place.”
For a time—again, if it could be called time—they were con
