when i stopped running

as dawn breaks, the world awakens in a symphony of soft hues-lavender, peach, and the fleeting touch of cherry red. in these quiet moments, i walk the familiar paths of campus, my footsteps sinking into the cool earth, leaving traces unseen by others. this place, a blend of bustling energy and serene corners, offers a feeling that i both cherish and dread.

my life has become a ritual-each step on this predictable route a whisper of my monotonous existence, where the seasons seem to leave me behind. winter, my greatest foe, is almost year-round here. it wraps the world in an unforgiving chill, erasing color and silencing sound. i tread through the snow, each flake reflecting my own fragile spirit, lost amidst the stark whiteness.

yet, today, as i retreat deeper into my thoughts, a vibrant energy disrupts the monotony. a young man plays in the snow, laughter spilling from him like warmth against the bitter cold. his icy blue eyes and sun-kissed skin draw me in, challenging the solitude i cling to. as i watch, a strange pull ignites within me. my world, once defined by despair, suddenly dances with possibility.

the essence of winter becomes a pathway to awakening, revealing a longing i've ignored for my entire life.