Ren arrives in Kołobrzeg hoping to uncover the story behind the photo—a boy standing alone by the lighthouse. He meets Aleksy, who looks eerily similar to the boy in the image. Their first encounter is tense, but fate keeps pulling them together.
As Ren explores the town through his lens, Aleksy becomes his reluctant guide. Slowly, they unravel the mystery of the photo, which ties into a decades-old love story between Ren’s grandfather and a Polish boy during WWII.
Their bond deepens as they retrace the past, and Ren begins to see Aleksy not just as a connection to history, but as someone who makes him feel truly seen. But Aleksy struggles with his own fears—of being vulnerable, of losing someone again, of stepping into a love that feels too big to hold.

🌊 Salt in the Wind Episode 22: The Space Between Stories


The hostel room felt different now. Not quieter—just fuller. Ren sat at the desk, staring at the empty wall where the collage had once lived. The gallery held the artifacts now, but the room still carried their weight. The silence wasn't empty. It was earned.


Aleksy entered with two mugs of tea, his hair damp from the sea air. "You're thinking again."


They drank in silence, the wind brushing against the windows like a memory. Outside, the town moved slowly—shops opening, waves rolling, people walking past the memorial without flinching.


Aleksy leaned back. "I used to think stories were things you found. But I think they find you."


Ren looked at him. "This one found us."


Aleksy hesitated. "And now we're part of it."


Later, they walked to the lighthouse. The keeper greeted them with a quiet nod, then handed Ren a small envelope.


"This came from Japan," she said. "Addressed to both of you."


Inside was a letter from Masaru's niece.


"I showed my mother the exhibition photos. She cried. She said Masaru never stopped talking about Kołobrzeg. About Aleksander. About the boy with the wind in his eyes. Thank you for giving him back to us."


Aleksy folded the letter slowly. "We gave them back to each other."


They climbed to the top of the lighthouse, the wind strong but steady. Ren placed the letter beside Masaru's photo, tucked into the crevice where they'd left it weeks ago.


Aleksy looked out at the sea. "Do you think they ever stood here together?"


Ren nodded. "I think they did. And I think they're still here."


That evening, they returned to the dock. The same place they always ended up. The same place Aleksander and Masaru had once carved their initials into the tree.


Aleksy sat beside Ren, legs dangling over the edge. "I've been thinking about staying."


Ren didn't speak. He just reached out and took Aleksy's hand.


They sat like that for a long time, the wind brushing past them like a promise.


Back at the hostel, Ren printed a new photo—Aleksy's hand in his, the sea behind them. He didn't pin it to the wall. He placed it in a drawer, folded gently.


Chapter 22 - Episode 22: The Space Between Stories