xchanged between their busy lives. But beneath the surface of their casual encounters, a tension had begun to build in Erik. He found himself thinking of her at odd mome

erstand the pull it had on her. Umeå was a world away from the vibrancy of Stockholm-more quiet, isolated even, surrounded by the vastness of the northern landscape. Yet for Astrid, it was home, the place where she had

his way to the botanical gardens, a message

you before I leave. Would you be free for coffee tomo

y when he could tell how it was, and here it was-a chance to speak with Ast

-

ell of freshly ground coffee. It was exactly the kind of place Astrid had spoken about to him when they met, a quiet place-small, cozy, and full of character. Seated

ying on her lips. She was in a simple yet smart outfit: a scarf wrapped around her neck, a woolen coat carrying an aura of coz

rik," she said softly, her eyes glimmering with a mi

ht of what was to come. "It's good to see you too

"I've been thinking a lot about everything. About my time here in

dy made up, as if Umeå had already claimed her. But he couldn't let her g

pointment that crept into his voice. "You have your life th

, Erik. Umeå is home, yes, but Stockholm..." She stopped, fumbling for words. "There's something about this city, some

connect with this place-the way you see the world, the way you create. You bring something to Stock

e. I came to explore, to discover more about myself. But I can't i

r here is worth staying for. I don't want you to feel like you have to choose between your pa

gs for so long, uncertain if they were reciprocated or if it was too soon. But here and now, with Astrid sitting across from

her coffee, then back at him. The intensity of th

ng unsure. Scared of going back to Umeå and realizing I've miss

n and reassurance. "You don't need to make that decision now, you can take your time. But just know this; whatever yo

good. But what you say. just makes me reconsider. Maybe this is all wrong, the way I look at things. Maybe I do not need to make the c

f his shoulders. "Then stay for a little longer. L

ly, her face lighting up with a newfound sense of hope.

em. The distance between Umeå and Stockholm no longer seemed an insurmountable divide. In that small, intimate moment, the city, the decisions,

s he looked at Astrid; whatever path