Hiking to the ridge had been harder than expected. I was panting; you were already laughing at my dramatic complaints. But when we reached the top, the view made every step worth it. Mountains rolled into the distance, clouds brushed the peaks, and the air smelled like pine and freedom. We sat on a...

We set off for a quick evening walk, expecting nothing more than the usual city sidewalks. Halfway down the trail along the river, the sun started sinking low, painting the water gold and pink. We stopped. Just stopped. No photos, no phones, just us leaning on the railing, watching the light...

We thought we knew the path — a short hike through familiar woods — but a fallen tree forced us to detour. Mud splashed our shoes, branches brushed our arms, and I swear the trail seemed to chuckle at our clumsy attempts to stay upright. You laughed first, slipping on a hidden root, and I...