In Every Corner of the Cosmos (Polin Fanfic) EN

When Summer Fades Away

In a summer neither of them will ever forget, lifelong friends Penelope and Colin confront unexpected feelings that will forever change their relationship. As the hot days come to an end, they must decide whether to risk everything for a love that could defy distance and time. Between shared secrets and moments of deep connection, the summer becomes a turning point in their lives, leading Penelope and Colin to a crossroads where desire and reality collide.

thing was certain: she would never forget this summer, and she would certainly never forget the hot August nights she had shared with Colin Bridgerton. Although Colin and Penelope had been childhood friends, this summer had been different. Colin lived in the village year-round, while Penelope only came during holidays and some festive days. They had a large group of friends that had been together for years, and every summer's end felt like a lump in Penelope's throat, thinking about the long wait until the next summer, missing her friends.

But that summer had been different...

The meadow was covered in wildflowers, and the sun was beginning to set on the horizon, bathing the place in shades of gold and orange. Penelope and Colin were sitting together on the grass, savoring the last moments of a summer that neither of them would ever forget. The air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers and the gentle sound of the wind whispering through the trees.

Colin looked at Penelope with an intensity she had never seen before. Although she had always felt a special connection with him, something in his gaze that afternoon made it hard for her to ignore the reality of what was happening between them. When Colin tucked a strand of her red hair behind her ear and confessed what he felt, Penelope's heart skipped a beat.

"I'm going to miss you, Pen..." Colin said softly, his voice filled with emotion.

Penelope smiled, though sadness lingered in her eyes.

"And I'll miss you, too, but I'm sure before we know it, it'll be summer again, and we'll all be together again. We'll be together again..." she replied, trying to convince not only Colin but also herself.

But Colin couldn't accept that answer so easily. Not after everything they had shared that summer. They had spent so many nights together, talking until dawn, laughing, sharing secrets, and in recent days, exploring an intimacy that had changed everything between them.

"I know we're only 24 and 20, but I know I want to be with you, Penelope. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Colin almost whispered, his words full of a sincerity that brought tears to Penelope's eyes. He was so sure of what he felt, so in love, that he couldn't imagine his life without her.

Penelope felt a lump in her throat. She knew Colin was serious, but she couldn't stop thinking about the reality that separated them. They lived in different worlds—he in the village, she in the city. Distance was something she had accepted a long time ago as an inevitable part of their friendship. But now, with Colin confessing his love for her, everything seemed much more complicated.

"Colin..." she began, her voice trembling, "I love you too, more than I ever thought I could love anyone... But I don't know if a long-distance relationship is what we need. You're so important to me, I don't want what we have to become a source of pain."

Colin looked at her with a mix of sadness and determination.

"What hurts me the most, Pen, is thinking that we didn't even try. That we didn't give what we could be together a chance. I know it won't be easy, but I promise I'll do everything in my power to make it work. Because what I feel for you is real, it's strong, and I don't want to let you go without at least trying."

Penelope met his gaze, seeing the depth of his feelings reflected in his eyes. She felt her resolve falter—the logic and pragmatism that had always guided her decisions began to fade in the face of the strength of the love she saw in Colin. But she also felt fear, fear of what might happen if things didn't turn out as he hoped.