Y/N's POV:
The world felt like a faded photograph, its colors muted, its edges blurry. I longed for something vibrant, something real, something that would pull me out of this melancholic haze.
I wanted to escape reality, to find a place where the world's harshness couldn't reach, where we could be lost in a dreamy world, untouched by the outside.
It started with a simple, almost childish desire: a place where no one else went. A secluded beach, a hidden meadow, a forgotten grove.
Somewhere where the moonlight would paint everything in silver, and the air would hum with unspoken secrets. A place where we could be alone, just the two of us, lost in a world built for lovers.
I pictured it with a stark clarity: a clearing in a dense forest, bathed in moonlight, a blanket spread out on the soft earth, two figures huddled close, sharing a bottle of wine.
Her laughter, light and carefree, would mingle with the rustling of the leaves. Her eyes, filled with a fire I hadn't seen before, would hold mine, and for that moment, everything else would fade away.
It wasn't just the location. It was the feeling. A connection so deep and powerful, it would erase every doubt, every fear.
A love that wouldn't just mend, it would rewrite, erase the scars of the past and replace them with a sense of belonging, of safety. A love that would make the pain disappear, replaced by a tingling, exhilarating joy.
I had felt it once, a glimpse of it, a whisper in the wind. A girl named Hanni, with eyes like the sky after a storm, hair like spun gold, and a laugh that could melt the coldest heart.
The way she looked at me, a curious mix of amusement and something deeper, something I couldn't quite decipher, had made my stomach flip.
She was everything I wasn't: bold, vibrant, a whirlwind of energy. She wasn't afraid to be seen, to be heard. And in her presence, I felt a strange, almost unsettling shift. I wanted to be better, braver, more worthy of her gaze.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
We were sitting on a bench in the park, the sun setting in a blaze of orange and pink.
"I don't know," I confessed, my voice barely a whisper. "I guess I've never been in love."
She tilted her head, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Do you want to be?"
Her question felt like a punch to the gut. I wanted to, desperately, but the thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.
"I... I don't know," I stammered. "It seems so complicated."
"Maybe," she said, her tone changing, becoming more serious. "But maybe it's worth the complication, you know? Maybe it's the only thing worth fighting for."
Those words stayed with me, dancing in my mind like fireflies in the twilight. I started to see the world differently, with Hanni's eyes, with a newfound sense of hope.
"I was thinking," I said one day, finding her by the window of her favorite cafe. "There's this place I know..."
Her brows shot up, her curiosity piqued.
"It's a hidden meadow," I continued, my voice gaining confidence, "in the middle of the forest. It's untouched, like a secret world. And I think… I think it's the perfect place to escape, to... to feel."
"Feel what?" she asked, her voice a soft melody.
"Feel love," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "Real love. A love that doesn't judge, doesn't change, doesn't fade."
She studied me, her gaze intensely focused. "You think it's possible?"
"I don't know," I admitted, my voice filled with a vulnerability I hadn't felt before. "But I want to believe it is."
The next weekend, we set out, armed with a blanket, a bottle of wine, and a shared hope. The forest was cool and damp, the air heavy with the scent of pine needles and moss.
We walked in silence, our steps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves, until we reached the meadow.
It was exactly as I had imagined it: a sun-drenched clearing, bathed in dappled light, with wildflowers blooming in vibrant colors.
We settled down on the blanket, sipping wine and watching the sun dip below the horizon.
"This is beautiful," she whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.
I smiled, the warmth spreading through me like a comforting fire. "I'm glad you like it."
We talked, not about the world, but about ourselves, our dreams, our fears. I shared my longing for something real, something genuine, something that would make me feel truly alive.
"I want to feel safe, but not tamed," I admitted, my voice catching in my throat. "I want to be loved, but not controlled."
She tilted her head, her eyes studying me with a depth that made my breath catch. "I understand," she said softly. "I want that too."
The night deepened, the moon casting its silvery light on the meadow. We were silent, lost in our own thoughts, but somehow, the silence was comforting, a shared understanding passing between us.
As the moon climbed higher in the sky, her gaze met mine. It was a look that seemed to pierce through the layers of my being, reaching deep into my soul.
It was a look that filled me with a longing I couldn't explain, a desire so powerful, it made my head spin.
"I wish I could stay here forever," she whispered, her voice barely a whisper. "Just us, under this moon, in this world."
I felt the same way, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I took her hand, my fingers entwining with hers.
The warmth of her touch sent a jolt of energy through me, a spark that ignited something deep inside.
And in that moment, under that moon, in the silent meadow, I knew I wasn't just looking for a place to escape. I was looking for her.
The one who would understand my yearning for a love that would make me feel whole, the one who would be a haven in the storm.
I was looking for Hanni, and I hoped with all my heart, she was looking for me too.
