Winter's Farewell

🇨​​🇭​​🇦​​🇵​​🇹​​🇪​​🇷​ 𝟔₆

On Monday morning, Claire woke up with a sense of anticipation she hadn't felt in a while. She knew she would see Leevi that day, and although she wouldn't admit it openly, she was excited. It was rare for him to disappear for so long, but now that he was back, she wanted to make the most of their time together like before.

The café they had chosen to meet at was close to her apartment, a small place with a cozy atmosphere, walls lined with books, and soft lighting. Claire arrived a little earlier than the agreed time and sat at a table near the window. She liked that spot because it reminded her of her love for books, and also because it was the kind of place where she could spend hours without noticing the time pass.

As she waited, she checked her phone now and then, though she knew Leevi wouldn't be long. And she wasn't wrong. Just five minutes after sitting down, the café bell chimed, and there he was. Tall, wearing his usual gray jacket, with a light smile on his face.

"Hey," Leevi said as he approached the table, taking off his jacket before sitting down across from her.

"Hi!" Claire responded, feeling a wave of relief wash over her at seeing him in person after what had felt like an eternity.

Leevi sat with his usual calm, as if no time had passed. Although he didn't always show much emotion through words, Claire could tell he was in a good mood, more relaxed. It was the same feeling she usually had when they spent time together, when everything flowed effortlessly.

"How was it?" Claire asked, genuinely interested in knowing what he had done during the days he'd been away.

"Good. I went to a small, quiet town. I just needed some space," Leevi replied, not giving too many details, but with a tone that suggested he had enjoyed the time to himself.

Claire nodded, understanding. She didn't need more explanations. She knew that Leevi always came back feeling refreshed after those moments of distance. It was his way of resetting.

"I'm glad you're back Lee." She smiled, taking a sip of her coffee.

They both sat in silence for a moment, but it was that kind of comfortable silence that had always characterized their relationship. People in the café kept coming and going, and Claire realized how natural it felt to be there with him, as if the days of absence hadn't changed anything between them.

After ordering something more to eat, the conversation flowed as easily as ever. Leevi shared a few more details about his trip, while Claire told him about how things had been at the bookstore. Even though they weren't grand stories, it felt good to share those small moments.

"You missed a really bad movie on Friday," Claire said, recalling her outing with Blair to the cinema. "It would've been fun to see your face during the most ridiculous scenes."

Leevi chuckled, and Claire felt a small pang of satisfaction seeing him so relaxed. Sometimes, it was hard to get him to open up or show emotion, but at that moment, he seemed more accessible than usual. There was something in the way he smiled that made everything feel lighter.

"Well, you'll have to wait for the next cinematic disaster to see me suffer," he joked, taking a sip of his coffee.

After a while, Claire noticed that time had passed faster than she thought. The café was getting busier than usual, and the afternoon was starting to fade.

"How about we go for a walk?" Claire suggested, feeling like extending the good time.

"Sounds good," Leevi agreed without hesitation.

They left the café and began walking aimlessly. The autumn air was crisp but not too cold, and the sky was beginning to turn shades of pink as the sun set on the horizon. They walked through the neighborhood streets, talking about a little bit of everything, without any rush. Claire felt like the afternoon was perfect. There was nothing extraordinary about what they were doing, but it was exactly what she needed: that sense of connection, of everything being okay.

At one point, they passed by a record store that Claire loved, and without thinking much, they went inside to take a look. Leevi began browsing through the vinyls, while Claire headed toward the classical music section, one of her favorite genres. They had very different musical tastes, but that had always been part of their dynamic.

"Look at this," Leevi said, showing her a vinyl of the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack.

Claire burst out laughing.

"Seriously? You should already have three of those at home."

"Five, actually," he replied with an amused smile. "But you can never have too many, right?"

Claire shook her head, amused by Leevi's unwavering devotion to Marvel. She knew it was one of the few things that truly excited him, and seeing it through his eyes always brought a smile to her face.

After spending some time in the store, they decided to keep walking. The afternoon faded into light conversation about music, movies, and books, and for the first time in a long while, Claire felt that the day had passed in the best possible way. It was as if nothing had changed, as if the days of absence hadn't affected their friendship at all.

When they finally said goodbye, Claire felt at peace. Leevi was fine, and even though things weren't always constant between them, the connection remained strong. That afternoon had been one of those you keep in your memory as a perfect day. Both knew that they didn't need to do grand things to enjoy each other's company.

"See you soon," Leevi said with a smile before turning the corner and disappearing into the shadows of the evening.

Claire stood for a moment, watching him walk away, feeling a warmth inside her that she couldn't quite describe. Yes, see you soon, she thought as she walked back to her place, knowing that even though he sometimes disappeared, he always came back, and those moments together were what truly mattered.