Love in the shadow

Once upon a time in a small, quiet town, there was a café called "Shadow's End." It was named after the big old tree that cast a long, comforting shadow over the entire place. The café was known for its cozy vibe, with mismatched furniture and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air.

One afternoon, a girl named Mia walked into Shadow's End. She was a regular, always coming in with a book in hand and a soft smile on her face. But that day was different. As she found her usual spot near the window, she noticed a guy she’d never seen before sitting at the corner table, sketching something intently.

Intrigued, Mia ordered her usual caramel latte and tried to read her book, but her eyes kept drifting back to the guy. He had a messy mop of hair and glasses that kept slipping down his nose. He seemed lost in his own world, entirely absorbed in his drawing.

After a while, Mia gathered the courage to go over and introduce herself. “Hi, I’m Mia. I couldn’t help but notice your drawing. Mind if I take a look?”

The guy looked up, surprised but smiling. “Sure, I’m Alex. It’s just something I’m working on for my art class.”

As Mia looked at his sketch, she realized it was a beautiful drawing of the café, capturing every detail from the light streaming through the windows to the customers lost in their own little worlds. They started talking, and it turned out they had a lot in common – a love for art, books, and good coffee.

Days turned into weeks, and Mia and Alex found themselves spending more and more time together at Shadow's End. They would talk for hours, sharing their dreams, fears, and everything in between. The café became their haven, a place where their love blossomed quietly in the shadow of the old tree.

One day, as they sat in their usual spot, Alex pulled out a small sketchbook and handed it to Mia. “I’ve been working on something,” he said, a little nervous.

Mia opened the sketchbook and saw page after page of drawings – of them, of their favorite spots in the café, of the moments they had shared. At the end of the sketchbook was a drawing of the two of them sitting under the tree, holding hands. Below it were the words, “Will you be my forever?”

Mia looked up, tears of joy in her eyes. “Yes, Alex, I will,” she said, hugging him tightly.

From that day on, Shadow's End wasn’t just a café anymore. It was the place where their love story began, a love that grew stronger with every passing day, always in the comforting shadow of the old tree.