The View from Willow Creek

The harvest festival was Willow Creek's favourite tradition. By sunset the little town glowed beneath the string of fairy lightsm the streets smelled of cinnoman, roasted corn and fresh bread while laughter drifted between market stalls and live music echoed through the square. It was impossible to stand there and not feel like you belonged.

Miles stood beside Noah's pub, watching people greet one other like family. Six months ago he had arrived carrying nothing but a suitcase and a camera convinced he only needed a break from he city. Somewhere along the way, the town became his home.

The problem is now...home included Sadie.

She appeared across the square, her copper curls catching the warm glow of the lights and she wondered between the stalls with Emily. She looked completely at ease...laughing at something Emily said. Miles smiled before he even realised he was doing it.

"You have that got again" Noah muttered again. Miles ignored him again.

Inside Rosa's Bakery later that evening, everyone gathered for dessert. Between slices of apple pie and cups of hot chocolate, Mr. Benjamin quietly folded his newspaper.

"I suppose it's time we admitted something".

The room felt silent.

" For some time after you came from the wedding you did not pretend to be dating...and it was the most glowing phase you ever had since you came to this town"...

Sensing the discomfort and refused to acknowledge that, the topics changed. The room emptied moments later leaving Miles and Sadie alone.

For the first time in days neither felt the need to fill the silence. Miles looked around the bakery remembering every morning coffee and every loaf of bread and every laugh they shared here together. He spent weeks convincing himself that what he misses was the fake relationship. It was not.

It was her who he missed. Always her.

"I wasn't pretending for the most of trip" he started admitting quietly.

She smiled sadly. "I know"

She confessed she had pulled away because she thought she was only a part of his healing...a temporary chapter after Oliviya. And that if she stayed too close she feared that he would mistake comfort for love.

Miles shook his head. She was never a rebound. She had become the safest place for him after the wedding. He reached for her hand. This time with no excuse behind the gesture. She didn't hesitate before intertwining her fingers with his. Walking out of the bakery the passes the old sign leading towards the abondoned overlook.

"That is illegal" Miles said.

Sadie smiled that mischievous smile of her. "Only if you get caught"

"That is still not how the law works"

She shrugged. "Sounds like a skill issue"

They laughed. And suddenly he realised that it was the easiest thing to do with her beside him.

The mountains gad not changed. The lights had not changes. Neither the town. Only they had. Miles finally found that he hadn't came to Willow Creek to escape the old life. He came to find one person who make every new one worth living.