Seasons of Solace

"i will be posting this in royalroad - author"

Cleane and Mareen are two quiet souls adrift in their own worlds. Cleane is a kindhearted boy whose generosity often goes unnoticed; Mareen is a withdrawn girl on the brink of self-destruction. Their lives collide one gray afternoon in an overgrown school courtyard-Mareen poised with scissors, ready to cut away more than just her hair. Cleane steps in, persuading her to choose a haircut over a tragedy, and takes her to a nearby salon. In that brief, transformative moment, they discover what it feels like to be truly seen.

In the days that follow, they walk home together, sharing street food and whispered secrets. Cleane learns to give without losing himself; Mareen learns to accept kindness without guilt. Their friendship deepens through shy confessions and late-night texts, but neither is ready to cross the line into romance.

As schools end and pressures mount-exams, family expectations, creative deadlines-Mareen retreats into solitude and vanishes for months. Cleane pours himself into music and new friendships, yet no one fills the space she left behind. Their occasional three-day reunions feel like miracles, only to be followed by long winters of unanswered messages and quiet longing.

Over a year of seasons, they learn that real connection survives the silences-held together by the promise to wait, to listen, and to return whenever the heart is ready.