The evening stars

Walk with a friend

Sophie woke up early in the morning, with the first rays of sunlight streaming through the curtains of her small apartment and Skye sniffling peacefully, curled up next to her. She jumped out of bed, filled with joy and slight excitement. Today was a day off, and she had some nice things planned. She stretched, yawned, and immediately remembered her idea of meeting Nigel. Sophie quickly dialed his number and after a few beeps his cheerful voice came through:

- Sophie! Hi, how are you?

- Hi, Nigel! Great! Listen, I've got an idea. Let's meet in the park, take some fall pictures with Skye. What do you think?

- Sounds like the perfect plan for a Saturday morning! I've been wanting to work outdoors for a long time. I'll see you in an hour?

- All right! See you then!

Sophie and Nigel met a few years ago when Nigel was just starting his career as a photographer. That day he came to the school where Sophie worked to do a photo shoot for her class album. Sophie remembered worrying about the children at first, afraid they would get cranky or camera shy. But when she saw how Nigel interacted with the children - with ease and kindness, engaging them with his play and jokes - all her doubts disappeared.

- Are you smiling? Yes? Good! Imagine I'm your favorite cartoon character! - Nigel said with a laugh, pointing the lens at the smiling faces of the children.

Sophie watched him with amazement and admiration. After the shoot, when the children had dispersed, she went up to Nigel to thank him for his work:- Thank you, the children were delighted. And I think they will remember the day with a smile.

Nigel smiled and held out his hand:- Glad to have helped! I'm Nigel, an aspiring photographer. This is my first big project and I'm glad it went smoothly. And you are... Sophie's teacher, right?

- Yes, Sophie," she nodded, shaking his hand. - You did a great job. Is this really your first project? Unbelievable!

From that moment on, their friendship began to grow stronger. Sophie and Nigel began to meet for coffee, to discuss work and life, and later to share their dreams and worries. Nigel was the one person Sophie could be herself with. He always knew how to find the right words to support her, and his humor and lightness filled her life with bright colors.

An hour later Sophie and Nigel were walking through the park. The leaves on the trees had changed from green to shades of yellow and red. The ground was carpeted in gold, and the air was fresh and cool. Skye ran merrily around, lifting leaves into the air and barking with joy.

Nigel, always full of energy and creative ideas, now works as the chief photographer for one of Chicago's most prestigious fashion magazines. His work graces the covers and pages, inspiring readers with his originality and refined taste. In a few years, Nigel has gone from an aspiring photographer shooting children's graduation albums to a recognized master of his craft. His ability to spot details and create unique images has made him in demand in the fashion industry. Nigel would often tell Sophie about his shoots, celebrities and models he had worked with, and each time his stories were filled with enthusiasm and love for his craft.

Nigel, a tall blond man with a camera at his side, was walking beside Sophie, discussing the latest fashion news and his current assignment for the magazine. He stopped, took aim and snapped a few shots of Skye running down the path.

- You know your Skye is a real star! - he remarked as Skye froze in a perfectly graceful pose, as if realizing she was being photographed. - I can already imagine what those photos will look like on the cover!

Sophie laughed:- Oh, Nigel, let's not turn my dog into a celebrity. She'll get fame in her head!

They continued their walk, enjoying the tranquility and beauty of the fall park. At one point, when they stopped at the pond, Sophie decided to share some news:- Nigel, I have news. Rachel, my childhood friend, is moving back to Chicago. It's been a long time since I've seen her, but she's like a sister to me.

Nigel smiled and immediately lit up:- Wow, that's great! Maybe she can help me find the perfect guy for you? - He said with a wink. - After all, you know I never give up when it comes to your love life!

Sophie smiled, but then shook her head:- 'You're incorrigible, Nigel. But it's not that simple. Rachel is married, she has a daughter. Although... I'm still glad she's coming back. It's like a part of my past is coming back to me.

- Well, I'm sure that together we can make this town even cozier and warmer," Nigel said, picking up the camera and taking a few more shots of Sophie against the golden autumn background. - The important thing is that you always have a reason to smile like this.Sophie felt her heart fill with gratitude for her friendship with Nigel. He was always there for her, supporting her and knowing how to cheer her up. They continued their walk, discussing upcoming meetings and future plans, enjoying every moment of this warm fall day.