Beyond the Veil

Chapter 16

After class, Sera made her way to the familiar trail she had begun to know and love. She trudged through the dense underbrush of the forest, the leaves crunching under her feet with each step. As she walked, she took in her surroundings, marveling at the beauty of the woods around her. The sun shone through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

The branches of the trees scraped against her skin, leaving small scratches on her arms, but she ignored the discomfort and continued walking, following the signs for the clearing. She felt calm, she was hoping to run into Saul, his house was somewhere in the forest afterall, but she wasn't counting on seeing him.

As she moved deeper into the forest, she called out his name, her voice echoing off the trees. But there was no response, only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves.

She pushed on, following a faint trail through the trees, the only sound in the entire forest was her heartbeat and her heavy breaths.

The sun was starting to set, casting a warm golden light through the trees, painting the leaves in hues of amber and gold. Sera made her way through the forest, her footsteps rustling through the fallen leaves. The gentle breeze carried with it the sweet scent of pine and fresh earth.

She could see the clearing ahead. Something about the way the sunlight filtered through the trees beckoned her forward, her heart raced with anticipation as she stepped into the open space.

In the center of the clearing, she saw Saul sitting on a fallen tree, his back to her. His jet-black hair was ruffled by the wind, and the warm light cast a golden glow on his sharp features. He was wearing a simple white t-shirt that clung to his body, and his eyes were fixed on something in the distance.

For a moment, Sera simply stood there, taking in the beauty of the scene before her. The trees surrounding the clearing framed the space perfectly, as if nature had crafted the area just for him. He looked like he truly belonged here.

Saul turned at the sound of her footsteps, he gave her a small smile as he caught sight of her. It shocked her but Sera felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of his smile. She walked over to him, and as she got closer, she noticed the slight scruff on his jawline and the way his eyes sparkled in the warm light.

They sat there in silence for a while, watching the sun dip below the horizon. He had given her a smile, and she had smiled back, but neither said anything.

Sera approached him cautiously, unsure of how to break the silence between them. She cleared her throat before speaking. "Saul?" She paused. "I've been looking for you," Sera said softly.

He turned around, his eyes meeting hers. His voice was gentle. "I know," Saul replied.

Sera hesitated as she got closer to him, he moved over to give her space to sit on the tree trunk. She took a seat next to him, and for a while, they just sat there in silence, watching the sunset together. The warm glow of the fading light enveloped them, and Sera felt a sense of peace settle over her for the first time in days.

As they sat there, Sera couldn't help but take in the beauty of the clearing around them. The trees were tall and majestic, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The grass was soft and lush, and the scent of wildflowers filled the air. A small stream trickled nearby, its soothing sound providing a calming backdrop to the scene.

Sera took a deep breath of the fresh forest air and began to speak, her eyes still focused forward studying the small ripples forming in the lake. "You know, it's funny how life turns out," she said with a small smile.

Saul waited patiently for her to continue.

"I always thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. But with where I am in my life right now, I'm not so sure anymore," Sera replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.