The Light Between Us

Elena had always been drawn to the coast. She'd grown up in a tranquil beach town where the rhythmic crash of waves was a regular presence. She accepted the job offer at the old lighthouse without hesitation, despite the fact that it was a lonely role as keeper and guide. The lighthouse, placed on a high rock overlooking the Atlantic, had been a source of hope for countless seafarers, and it was about to transform her life as well.

Elena sensed something strange after only a few days in her new job. Every evening, as the sun set below the horizon, she'd notice a flare of light across the sea, as if someone was signalling her from a far beach. Intrigued, she initially dismissed it as an abnormality. But the flash continued to appear night after night, as if on cue.

One evening, she observed a little boat come into view. The shadow of a man with his arm lifted, signalling to her, made her pulse skip a beat. She grabbed her torch and reacted with a short flash, hoping he'd notice it.

The next morning, the man was at her door. He identified himself as Leo, a marine biologist working in the region, and expressed regret for the "unannounced signals," stating that he had been lodging in the isolated coves close by since he was researching the coastline. He chose to say hello after observing the lighthouse's illumination.

Leo became a constant in Elena's life after that day. They talked, watched the sky, and told sea stories on the rocks in the evenings. Elena felt her world expand as a result of Leo's enthusiasm for his work. As easily as the tides came and went, their friendship blossomed into love, and they spent peaceful evenings at the lighthouse and adventures together along the shore.

However, one autumn, Leo was offered a position halfway around the world as the leader of a long-term marine conservation project. Elena understood that she couldn't stop him from pursuing his ambition, which was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Despite her sadness, she urged him to leave. Leo promised to come back and gave her a little, polished stone that he had found on the seashore the day they first met.

Elena faithfully maintained the lighthouse over the years, her love for Leo a silent but unwavering pain. She frequently carried the stone in her pocket while she strolled along the shore, touching its smooth surface and holding out hope.

Then, one stormy night, a flash of light appeared across the sea. Her heart raced. She grabbed her flashlight and responded with three quick flashes, the code they’d shared long ago. The light responded, closer and closer, until finally, she saw the outline of a boat.

It was Leo, weathered from his travels but with the same warm smile. He’d come back, just as he’d promised. Standing in the beam of the lighthouse, they embraced, knowing that some love stories, like the tides, always find their way back home.

And there, under the comforting light of the lighthouse, they began anew.

Leo and Elena were accustomed to living by the sea, with their days consisting of little routines that seemed like promises: silent evenings while watching the waves come in, coffee shared on the lighthouse steps, and early morning walks down the shore. Together, they would ascend to the top of the lighthouse each night to guide ships to safety and illuminate the coast while gazing out over the black waters with their hands clasped together.

Leo took Elena's hand one clear, starry night and put a seashell-made ring on her finger. He said, "Marry me here, where it all started." Elena nodded, her heart bursting with happiness as tears filled her eyes. In front of friends and family, they exchanged vows on the cliff few months later. Elena realised that their love was as timeless and impenetrable as the ocean itself as they shared a kiss under the light that had first brought them together.