It had been half a year since Nicol and Max had lost contact. She often found herself thinking of him, memories surfacing in quiet moments. One evening, on a whim, she sent him a message. To her delight, Max replied almost immediately, and they fell into an easy, comfortable conversation. Everything felt natural, familiar, and good.
Though the next day went by without messages, Max added her back on Snapchat, a small gesture that made Nicol's heart flutter. A few days later, Nicol sent out a snap to her friends, asking if anyone wanted to hang out—she was bored. Max replied almost instantly, saying he would love to join her. Nicol couldn't help but smile and quickly told her best friend. They decided on a meeting spot.
Nicol spent the day preparing. She chose a pair of black dresses, brown tights, and a black blazer. She straightened her hair, put on makeup, and took the bus to meet him, her nerves fluttering at the thought of seeing him after six months.
The date was June 12, 2025. As the bus came to a stop, Nicol stepped out and saw Max waiting. They smiled, their eyes lighting up, and embraced warmly. They caught up, chatting about how life had been, and decided to pick up some wine at a nearby store. Nicol stood at the register while Max watched from behind, smiling. He sent her a cheeky message: "Are you going to be long?" Nicol read it and laughed, texting back a playful reply.
"Where are we even going?" she asked.
"I know a place," Max replied.
"Oh, let me guess… another cemetery?" she teased.
"No, don't worry," he laughed.
Soon they found themselves in a sunlit meadow, the summer air warm, butterflies flitting around, and birds singing. They wandered, joked, and climbed over a small rocky hill. When Nicol struggled to get up, Max offered his hand and helped her. They sat together on the grass, and Nicol began to open up about her problems. Max listened patiently, giving advice, offering comfort.
"Do you… want a hug?" Max asked.
"No, it's okay," Nicol replied softly.
They lit a joint and shared it, and laughter came easily, breaking any lingering tension. Nicol sipped her wine, borrowing Max's sunglasses. "Why do you always wear these?" she asked. "Life through a filter." They laughed together, realizing in unison that they had said the same thing at the same time.
Lying on the grass, looking into each other's eyes, Max leaned in and kissed her. Nicol, slightly tipsy, melted against him as they laughed, whispered, and shared moments of pure closeness. Later, Nicol tried to sit up but wobbled.
"Ouch… don't drink too much," Max teased.
"It's just wine, it's fine," she giggled.
They spent hours talking, laughing, and holding each other. As dusk approached, they reluctantly made their way back to the bus stop so Nicol could go home. They laughed and playfully pushed each other along the way. Max shared some of his own struggles, too. At the bus stop, they exchanged a long, silent hug, promising that it had been wonderful and that they would do it again.
Since that day, they hadn't met again. Perhaps one day, their paths would cross once more—but for now, they parted on good terms, hearts quietly connected, memories of summer and laughter lingering between them.