The morning was unusually quiet. New York City, usually buzzing, seemed to slow its rhythm for a moment. Emily woke before her alarm clock, the sun's rays sliding over her shoulders and a slight shiver of anticipation in the air. Today was her day off, and so was Sebastian's, a rare coincidence. He hadn't said where they were going. Only smiled enigmatically the night before, "Trust me."

He'd come to pick her up in a rented convertible, the color of wet asphalt. He wasn't wearing a business suit, tie, or a hint of the gallery magnate look-just a soft sweater, jeans, and slightly slicked-back hair. He handed her a thermos of tea and a paper bag of croissants.

- I think we deserve a little freedom," he said as they left Manhattan and drove out of the city.

They drove without a definite destination, winding through the narrow roads of New York State until they reached a small lake in the woods. The water was as smooth as glass and reflected the sky like a mirror. Emily had never been here before.

They sat down by the water, wrapped in plaid. Sebastian lit a small campfire. They sat in silence, and the silence was different-not tense, not waiting, but full. Emily watched him toss dry needles into the fire and caught herself thinking, "This is it. This is happiness. Calm, quiet, no promises. Just being there."

- Have you ever thought about what would have happened if we'd met earlier? - She asked, leaning on his shoulder.

He thought for a moment.

- Before... I was different. Harder, colder. I don't think I could have understood you then. Or deserve you.

- And now?

- Now I'm just afraid of losing you one day.

Emily clung to him tighter. It was the first time he'd said it out loud. They didn't talk about the future. Almost never talked about the past. But in that moment, there was some kind of fragile vow between them - unspoken, but real.

Later, they were boating on the lake. Emily, laughing, tried to row, but the oar was stubbornly stubborn, making the boat spin in place.

- We don't seem to be going anywhere," she said with a laugh.

- The important thing is that we're together," Sebastian replied, looking straight into her eyes.

They returned to the city at night, tired, their hair disheveled and the smell of the fire in their clothes. But there was something new in their gazes. Not just passion or romance - but silence after laughter, warmth after touch, a love they no longer needed to convince each other of.

And neither of them knew then that it was their last carefree day. The last one before the shadows of the past and other people's footsteps began to approach.

But for now - there was only the forest, the lake, and two people finding each other amidst the hustle and bustle of the world.