Summer arrived with relentless heat, turning the harbor into a shimmering haze. The youth program culminated in a sunset concert by the lighthouse—kids beaming under string lights, parents clapping to off-key anthems. Mara shone at center stage, her voice carrying over the waves like a siren's call. Kyle watched from the wings, guitar still warm in his hands, pride mixing with the familiar ache.
Afterward, as the crowd dispersed, Mara found him packing up. "We did it," she said, hugging him impulsively. "Could've been nothing without you."
He held on a second too long, then pulled back with a grin. "Nah. You pulled the magic out of them. Always do."
They walked the pier in companionable quiet, stars pricking the velvet sky. Mara scrolled her phone idly, then froze. "Kyle... look at this."
It was Eli's art—viral now, splashed across feeds. The gallery show preview dominated: canvases of light and longing, her silhouette in dawn glow dominating one massive piece titled *Echo*. Comments poured in: *heartbreakingly beautiful*, *who is she?*, *this is love that waits*.
Mara's eyes misted. "He's painting us. Even now."
Kyle's stomach twisted, but he kept his voice even. "Go see it. Close the chapter. Or... open it."
She nodded, resolve hardening. "I'm booking a train tomorrow. Summer break—perfect time."
The decision rippled through him like an incoming swell. That night, alone in the bookstore, Kyle poured everything into a final gift: a song. *Echo*. Lyrics of shores apart, melodies that held without possessing. He recorded it rough on his phone, burned it to a CD with a handwritten note: *For the waves that brought you here—and the ones calling you back. Always your friend, Kyle.*
He gave it to her at dawn, as she waited for her ride. "Listen on the train. It's yours."
She hugged him fiercely. "Thank you. For everything. Harbor won't be the same."
As her train pulled away, Kyle stood on the platform, waves crashing below. Jealousy crested then receded—he'd loved her purely, one-sided but true. No confession, no scene. Just the song, carrying his heart across the miles.
That evening, *Echo* leaked online from a rehearsal clip. Likes trickled in, then flooded. Mara texted from the city: *Your song's perfect. Safe travels back to you soon?*
He replied: *Always.*
The waves broke, pulling her toward Eli's shore. Kyle turned inland, his own tide turning—toward music, solitude, the quiet freedom of letting go.
YOU ARE READING
Lullaby by Morning
RomanceA tender romance unfolds between two souls drawn together by rain and music, tested by distance and quiet longings, only to find deeper harmony after time apart. Shadows of unspoken affections linger from coastal friendships, adding bittersweet laye...
