Winter's Farewell

​🇨​​🇭​​🇦​​🇵​​🇹​​🇪​​🇷​ 𝟕₇

The day after spending the afternoon with Lee, Claire woke up with a sense of calm. The time they had shared had left a pleasant feeling, and even though they hadn't seen much of each other lately, the reunion had been perfect. It was as if they had never drifted apart. As she stretched in bed, she thought about how much fun they had and how easy it had been to pick up the conversation, as if nothing had changed.

She turned on her phone and quickly checked her messages. No notifications from Leevi, but she didn't mind. She knew they both gave each other space, and even if they didn't talk every day, the connection was still there. It's always like this, she thought, setting the phone aside as she prepared for another day of work at the bookstore.

The routine at the store was her refuge. Organizing books, helping customers, and immersing herself in the smell of paper and ink brought her a sense of peace. That morning, as she unpacked a new box of graphic novels, her mind drifted back to the lighthearted conversation she'd had with Leevi at the record store the day before. They had laughed so much that she found it incredible how they sometimes drifted apart, only to come back together as if nothing had changed.

One of her coworkers, Julia, interrupted her while she was shelving books.

"Claire, there's a customer who needs help with something in the history section," she said, pointing to the back of the store.

"I'll be right there," Claire replied, smiling.

She headed to the section and helped an older man find a book about World War II. As she explained the options to him, she felt that familiar sense of tranquility that came from being surrounded by books. The day didn't seem to hold any surprises, and for the first time in weeks, Claire felt completely at peace. Leevi was back, everything was fine, and life continued its course.

After finishing her shift at the bookstore, she decided to take a detour before heading home. She liked walking through the nearby park, especially during this time of year when autumn painted the leaves in warm colors. The crisp air cleared her mind and gave her time to think, though that afternoon, she didn't feel the need to think too much. Enjoy the moment, she told herself.

As she walked, she noticed she was checking her phone more often than usual, perhaps hoping for a message from Leevi. You shouldn't be so focused on it, she thought, reminding herself that it wasn't necessary to stay in constant contact. Still, she couldn't help feeling a small emptiness when there were no new notifications from him.

She decided to sit on a bench near a small lake. From there, she watched families stroll by, couples sitting on other benches, and children playing under the watchful eyes of their parents. It was a peaceful afternoon, and Claire let her mind wander freely, enjoying the moment.

"Hey, Claire, what are you doing here all by yourself?" A familiar voice pulled her out of her daydream.

She looked up and saw Blair, her friend, approaching with a broad smile and a shopping bag in hand.

"Blair!" Claire replied, surprised. "Nothing, just enjoying the afternoon. What about you? Shopping?"

"Yeah, you know, weekends are for spending money I don't have," Blair joked as she sat next to her on the bench. "How's everything? Haven't heard much from you this week."

Claire smiled, though inside she felt there wasn't much to tell. She had seen Leevi, but other than that, nothing extraordinary had happened.

"Everything's good. I saw Leevi yesterday, and it was a good day. But other than that, just the usual—work, reading, you know."

Blair nodded understandingly. She knew that Claire and Leevi had always had a peculiar relationship, and although she sometimes worried that Claire depended too much on him, she preferred not to say anything that might make her uncomfortable.

"I'm glad you had a good time. It's always nice to reconnect," Blair said, pulling out her phone and quickly scrolling through her notifications. "I was thinking of having a game night at my place next week. You in?"

Claire nodded quickly.

"Of course! That sounds fun. I could use some more socializing."

They spent a while chatting about the latest updates in their lives. Blair talked about her office dramas, her failed attempts to find time to go to the gym, and some TV shows she'd been watching. Claire enjoyed those lighthearted moments, where there wasn't much to think about and the conversation flowed effortlessly.

When she got home that night, she realized how good her day had been. She felt balanced, and even though she hadn't heard from Leevi since their time together, she wasn't worried. She knew they didn't always need to stay in constant contact for things to work between them. Over time, she had learned that their friendship didn't rely on daily messages or long conversations, but on that subtle connection that always existed, no matter how much time passed between their meetings.

She made herself a simple dinner and settled onto the couch to read. As she flipped through the pages of her book, her mind kept drifting back to the moments she had shared with Leevi the day before. It was a good day, she thought, smiling to herself. She was glad that despite the absences and the life that sometimes pulled them apart, they always found their way back to each other.

The rest of the week passed without major events. Claire worked at the bookstore, saw Blair occasionally, and spent time reading at home. Leevi hadn't texted her again, but Claire didn't think much of it. She knew that when he wanted to, he'd reach out. For now, she enjoyed the tranquility of her daily life, free of complications.

However, by the end of the week, as she checked her phone before bed, she couldn't help but think that she missed those spontaneous messages from Leevi more than she wanted to admit. It was a feeling that came and went, and although she tried to ignore it, the emptiness she sometimes felt during those moments of silence became a little more noticeable.

Leevi always comes back, she reminded herself before turning off the light and letting sleep take over.