Winter's Farewell

​🇨​​🇭​​🇦​​🇵​​🇹​​🇪​​🇷​ 𝟐𝟑₂₃

Claire woke to sunlight streaming through her bedroom window and the faint sound of a bird chirping outside. It was a rare clear morning after days of rain, and the crisp autumn air carried a promise of change. She stretched lazily in bed, her body still heavy with sleep but her mind surprisingly calm. The previous day with Leevi had left her with a bittersweet sense of comfort—like holding onto something precious and fleeting.

The memories of their laughter at the pizzeria and their easy conversations played like a highlight reel in her mind as she went about her morning. Despite their differences and the subtle cracks in their friendship that had formed over time, yesterday reminded her of why Leevi was such a cornerstone in her life.

Claire padded into the kitchen and started her morning routine: boiling water for tea, slicing fruit for breakfast, and humming a tune she couldn't quite place. Just as she sat down with her bowl of granola, her phone buzzed on the table.

Leevi: Busy today?

She smiled.

Claire: not really, what's up?

Leevi: I need a break from my apartment. Wanna do something?

Claire didn't need to think twice.

Claire: oki, ur call, what are we doing?

An hour later, Claire found herself standing at the entrance of the city's botanical garden. Leevi had chosen the spot, claiming he needed "a green escape from reality."

"It's not as dramatic as a rainforest," he admitted as they entered, "but I'll take what I can get."

The garden was a peaceful oasis in the middle of the bustling city. Vibrant flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and red bloomed in carefully curated patterns, while towering trees formed a natural canopy overhead. Claire took a deep breath, savoring the earthy scent of soil and greenery.

"This is actually perfect," she said.

Leevi grinned. "Told you. Nature knows how to fix everything."

They wandered through the paths, stopping occasionally to admire a particularly striking plant or read the plaques describing each section of the garden. Claire snapped photos on her phone, making mental notes to look up some of the flowers later.

"Hey," Leevi said as they passed a small pond, "remember when you tried to grow your own herb garden and killed everything in a week?"

Claire shot him a mock glare. "Excuse you, the basil survived for two weeks. And it wasn't my fault—it was bad soil!"

"Right. Blame the soil," Leevi teased, nudging her shoulder.

They stopped at a wooden bench overlooking the pond, where a family of ducks floated lazily on the water. Claire pulled her jacket tighter around her as a cool breeze swept through.

"Do you ever think about where we'll be in five years?" she asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Leevi looked at her, his expression thoughtful. "I try not to think that far ahead. Too much pressure."

"But don't you wonder?"

"Sure," he said after a moment. "I guess I just hope I'm doing something I love. And that I'm not alone."

Claire nodded, feeling the weight of his words. She knew Leevi wasn't one to talk openly about his fears, but in moments like these, when his guard was down, she could see glimpses of the vulnerable side he rarely showed.