Evenings in Sunhaven were always gentle and slow, as if time itself chose to rest for a while.
The sky glowed with shades of orange and soft purple, while the last calls of birds faded into the quiet air. Somewhere in the distance, the evening prayer echoed, blending peacefully with the rhythm of village life.
Standing beside the dusty road that ran through Sunhaven, Lina looked up at the sky.
She stood there longer than she realized, lost in thoughts she never spoke aloud. There was calm on her face, but her eyes carried the weight of responsibilities far heavier than her age.
Lina was twenty-two years old.
She had lost her father years ago, and since then, life had taught her to grow up faster than most. Her mother depended on her, and her younger brother, Ryan, was still in school. Lina had quietly become the backbone of her family.
After completing her studies, she began tutoring children in the village. The small income barely covered their needs, but Lina never complained. She believed patience and effort would one day change everything.
Suddenly, a soft sound broke the silence.
Ring… ring…
The bell of a bicycle.
Lina turned, slightly startled.
At this hour, the road was usually empty.
— "Lina?"
The voice was familiar—too familiar to ignore.
She slowly turned around.
It was Ethan.
He stood beside his old bicycle, a thin layer of dust clinging to its wheels. His face showed traces of exhaustion, but his eyes held a quiet determination. After years of studying in the city, Ethan had returned to Sunhaven just a few days ago.
They had grown up together—same school, same fields, same childhood laughter.
Life had taken them in different directions, but some connections never truly faded. Still, there were feelings neither of them had ever dared to name.
— "Out here this late?" Lina asked softly.
Ethan rested his hand on the bicycle handle.
— "I saw you standing here… and I don't know why, but I felt like calling your name."
A brief silence followed.
The evening breeze moved through the trees, carrying unspoken emotions with it.
— "How was the city?" Lina asked, breaking the quiet.
Ethan smiled faintly.
— "In the city, you learn how to survive. But in a place like Sunhaven, you remember how to live."
The words stayed with Lina.
She didn't respond, but something stirred deep inside her heart.
After a moment, Ethan spoke again, his voice slower, more serious.
— "Lina… I came back with a plan."
She looked at him.
— "What kind of plan?"
Ethan glanced toward the darkening sky.
— "I want to open a small school here. For children who can't afford proper education. Completely free."
Lina's eyes widened with hope.
— "That's… that's a beautiful idea."
— "But I can't do it alone," Ethan said quietly.
— "I need someone I can trust. I need you."
For a second, Lina felt her heart skip a beat.
She couldn't tell whether it was the weight of responsibility—or a feeling she had been avoiding for years.
Lowering her gaze, she replied honestly,
— "I don't know if I'm strong enough… but I'll try."
Ethan smiled.
It was a gentle smile, filled with gratitude—and something deeper, something unspoken.
From the nearby mosque, the final call of the evening prayer echoed across Sunhaven. The sky grew darker, wrapping the village in calm silence.
Lina took a deep breath.
Maybe tonight marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
A chapter that could change Sunhaven… and perhaps her heart as well.
But was this chapter only about duty?
Or was it the quiet beginning of a love neither of them had named yet?
To be continued…