Winter's Farewell

🇨​​🇭​​🇦​​🇵​​🇹​​🇪​​🇷​ 𝟓₅

The days passed more quickly than Claire had expected. Leevi had sent her that message saying he'd be gone for a few days, and although he didn't specify how long he'd be away, she didn't worry too much. However, as the weeks went by, Leevi's absence started to feel more constant in her life, like he had left an empty space that was becoming harder and harder to ignore.

It was Friday afternoon, and Claire was organizing the shelves at the bookstore, focused on her work as she often did when she wanted to clear her mind. There wasn't much activity in the shop, just a few regulars browsing through books without buying anything. As she placed a couple of novels back in their spots, she heard the familiar sound of her phone vibrating in her jacket pocket.

She took out her phone and saw it was a message from Blair.

"Movie tonight? There's a new one I want to see. We could go at 8."

Claire smiled at the message. Blair was always the first to suggest plans, and Claire appreciated having something to do to distract herself. She quickly replied with, "I'm down!" before putting her phone back in her pocket. Going to the movies sounded like the perfect plan to wrap up the week.

After closing the store, Claire walked home with the intention of changing clothes and getting ready for the movie. The weather was starting to cool as autumn settled into the city. She loved the sound of dry leaves crunching under her feet as she walked, and the crisp air helped clear her mind.

When she arrived at her apartment, she turned on a lamp and collapsed onto the sofa, enjoying a moment of calm before heading out again. She instinctively checked her phone, looking to see if Leevi had responded to her last message, but the screen remained silent. He must be fine, just unplugged, Claire thought. He's done it before.

Sometimes, when she hadn't heard from him for a while, she felt a small pang of unease, but she always managed to convince herself there was no reason for alarm. Leevi came back when he was ready—it had always been that way.

At 8 p.m. sharp, Claire arrived at the cinema where she had agreed to meet Blair. The place was a bit crowded, with a group of teenagers making noise near the entrance and couples waiting in line to buy popcorn. Blair was already there, as usual, with a pair of tickets in hand and a bright smile on her face.

"You're just in time!" her friend said, handing her one of the tickets"Ready to switch off for a bit?"

"Definitely," Claire replied, grateful for a plan that didn't require much mental energy. Sometimes, going to the movies was the best way to not think about anything else for a couple of hours.

They entered the theater and settled into their seats just before the movie started. It was a light comedy, nothing too deep, but enough to make them both laugh. For those two hours, Claire managed to completely switch off. They laughed at the absurd jokes, commented on how predictable the ending was, and when they left the theater, both felt more relaxed.

"That was the dumbest movie I've seen in a long time, but I needed it," Claire said as they stepped out into the cool night breeze.

"I told you it'd be good for you!" Blair replied, laughing "Sometimes the best thing is to watch something totally mindless."

They walked for a bit before saying goodbye. Blair had to get up early the next day, so Claire decided to head home alone. The night was peaceful, with a clear sky and stars shining brightly. Despite the good time she'd had at the movies, Claire couldn't help but let a thought cross her mind: What would Leevi be doing right now?

She hadn't realized how much she missed their chats and the spontaneous afternoons at her apartment until that moment. Maybe I should text him tomorrow, she thought. But I don't want to seem pushy.

When she got home, she took off her coat and made herself a cup of tea before getting into bed. The night had been good, but still, Leevi's absence was starting to feel more palpable. She decided not to dwell on it too much and, after reading for a while, turned off the light and let sleep take over.

The next day, Claire decided to spend the morning at home. She didn't have any specific plans, so she took advantage of the time to do some cleaning and organize her small space. As she tidied up, her mind kept returning to the same question: How much longer would Leevi be away? Even though he had said he'd be gone for a few days, a couple of weeks had already passed. It wasn't unusual for him, but this time, Claire couldn't help feeling like the time was dragging on more than she'd expected.

Maybe I'm just getting too used to him being around, she thought as she folded her freshly laundered clothes. Maybe I should get used to being more alone.

By midday, she decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood. She passed by the usual café and, without thinking too much about it, went in to buy something. While waiting in line, she noticed she was checking her phone more often than usual. I should text him first, she thought, but something held her back. She didn't want to seem bothersome or dependent, though deep down, she was starting to realize how much she relied on her friendship with Leevi to feel balanced.

With her coffee in hand, she walked to the park. She sat on a bench, enjoying the autumn sun, and took out her phone. Maybe I should invite Leevi for coffee when he gets back. She started typing a casual message, something simple, but stopped herself. No, better to wait for him to text me first, she thought, putting her phone back in her bag.

Sometimes waiting was the best option. Claire knew that Leevi would come back, as he always did. She just needed to be patient.

On Sunday afternoon, as Claire finished reading a book on the couch, her phone vibrated. She grabbed it quickly, and a small smile appeared on her face when she saw Leevi's name on the screen.

"What are you up to? I got back today."

She responded immediately, asking how his time away had been, and after exchanging a few short messages, they agreed to meet for coffee the next day. Claire felt relieved that he was back, but at the same time, something inside her told her that things weren't exactly the same as before. Still, she didn't want to overthink it. Everything's fine, she told herself, getting ready to see her friend, just like they always had.