---
The rhythmic hum of the train filled the air as Isabella rested her head against the window, watching the scenery blur past in streaks of green and gold. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the rolling hills, reminding her of how far she had come from the busy, chaotic city. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed to escape until she found herself on this train, heading toward a small coastal village she had barely researched. It was an impulse—a decision driven by the desperate need for space and solitude.
Isabella sighed, her breath fogging the window for a moment. Thirty-five years old, a successful marketing executive, and yet here she was—running away from her life. Her phone buzzed inside her handbag, pulling her attention back to reality. She didn’t reach for it. She knew who it was. Eric. Her most recent ex, attempting once again to repair the relationship she had already let go of in her heart.
Their breakup had been inevitable. Eric had wanted marriage, children, a house in the suburbs—the traditional dream. But Isabella wasn’t sure she ever wanted those things, and even if she did, not with him. The constant disagreements, the tension—it had worn her down, leaving her exhausted.
Her reflection in the window stared back at her, the lines near her eyes more pronounced than they had been a year ago. She wasn’t old, but she felt older—worn by the weight of her responsibilities, her career, and the endless societal expectations.
When the train finally came to a stop, Isabella stood and gathered her things, stepping onto the platform. The coastal air greeted her with a salty breeze, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of the city. For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to relax, letting her shoulders drop as she inhaled the scent of the sea.
The village was quiet, a far cry from the bustling metropolis she had left behind. Narrow cobblestone streets wound between small cottages, and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air. It was peaceful. Exactly what she needed.
Isabella checked her phone for directions to the cabin she had rented. A ten-minute walk along the coast, and she would be there. She slipped her phone back into her bag and started walking, her heels clicking softly against the stones. As she walked, the stress of her life in the city seemed to fall away with each step.
By the time she reached the cabin, the sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in shades of pink and orange. The cabin itself was charming—small, rustic, with a wooden deck that overlooked the ocean. She dropped her bags inside and walked out onto the deck, leaning against the railing as she watched the waves crash against the shore below.
For the first time in months, she felt something like peace settle over her. Here, away from the demands of her job, away from the pressure to find love, she could just… be. She hadn’t realized how suffocating her life had become until she stepped away from it.
But even as she stood there, basking in the tranquility, a nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her that this escape was temporary. The pressures, the expectations—they would all be waiting for her when she returned.
Isabella shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. "This weekend is for me," she whispered to herself. "I’ll deal with everything else later."
With that resolve, she turned back toward the cabin, determined to make the most of her time here. Little did she know, this weekend would change her life in ways she couldn’t yet imagine.
---
YOU ARE READING
Beyond The Years
Romansa"Beyond the Years" is a heart-wrenching tale of love, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to choose happiness in a world that doesn't always understand.
