Sebastian

Sebastian stood right at the water's edge, hands tucked into his jacket pockets, watching the river breeze carry his cigarette smoke away. From the direction of the farm, the sound of your soft, unhurried footsteps drifted toward him. Your movements were calm, without haste, as if this were merely a stroll to enjoy the evening cool.

Catching sight of the approaching silhouette out of the corner of his eye, Sebastian turned his head only slightly, but remained where he was. You made no attempt to approach too closely or invade his space—instead, you simply came to a brief halt a few meters away at the shoreline, your gaze following his toward the dark expanse of the river. In this shared silence, the tension dissipated, leaving only a faint sense of mutual solitude.

— You're the new farmer, right? — Sebastian said quietly, exhaling another plume of acrid smoke toward the starlit sky.