Episode 2 The Man at Sunrise
739 Words
The mountain café was small, with wooden tables overlooking a sea of rolling hills. Birds sang in the distance as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees.
Diana wrapped both hands around the warm cup of coffee Ethan had bought her.
"So," Ethan said with a smile, "do you always trust strangers enough to accept coffee from them?"
She laughed softly.
"Normally? Never."
"So what changed?"
She looked out at the mountains before answering.
"You don't seem dangerous."
He placed a hand dramatically over his chest.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It wasn't exactly one."
"Ouch."
They both laughed, and the conversation flowed as naturally as if they had known each other for years.
"So," Ethan asked, "what do you do when you're not riding through mountain roads?"
"I'm a creative person," Diana replied. "I enjoy designing invitations, souvenirs, party decorations—anything that makes people smile."
His eyes lit up.
"That's why you noticed the sunrise before anything else."
She tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"You looked at the colors first. Most people would take out their phones."
She smiled.
"I like remembering moments more than collecting photos."
Ethan raised his camera.
"And here I thought photographers were the sentimental ones."
"They are."
"You don't like being photographed?"
"It's not that." Diana shrugged. "I've just never felt... photogenic."
Ethan looked at her for a moment.
"I disagree."
She laughed awkwardly.
"You barely know me."
"I know enough."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"You smiled at the waitress before she smiled at you."
Diana blinked.
"You thanked the man who parked your motorcycle beside yours."
She looked surprised.
"And when you thought no one was looking, you stood there for a full minute just admiring the sunrise."
He smiled warmly.
"People who appreciate little things are always beautiful."
For the first time in a long while, Diana didn't know what to say.
She wasn't used to compliments that had nothing to do with her appearance.
"So..." she finally said, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks, "are you always this observant?"
"It's part of my job."
"And what exactly is your job?"
"I'm an architect."
She nodded.
"That explains it."
"What?"
"You notice details."
"And you create them."
Their eyes met.
Neither looked away.
The waitress returned with two plates of breakfast.
"Long ride?" she asked.
"We actually just met," Diana answered.
The waitress smiled knowingly.
"Sometimes the best people in our lives begin as strangers."
After breakfast, they walked toward the viewpoint.
The clouds had begun to lift, revealing endless green valleys below.
"It's beautiful," Diana whispered.
"It is."
She looked at him.
"I meant the view."
"I know."
"But..."
He smiled.
"I was talking about the company."
Diana rolled her eyes playfully.
"You're smooth."
"I practiced that line all week."
She laughed.
"You couldn't have. We only met this morning."
"Exactly."
They continued walking until they reached the edge of the viewpoint.
The breeze gently moved Diana's hair across her face.
Without thinking, Ethan reached out and tucked a loose strand behind her ear.
The moment lasted only a second.
Yet it felt much longer.
Realizing what he had done, Ethan quickly stepped back.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—"
"It's okay."
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Diana's phone rang.
The screen read:
**Sophia ❤️**
She answered immediately.
"Good morning, sweetheart."
"Mama!" Sophia's cheerful voice echoed through the phone. "Did you make it to the mountains?"
"I did."
"Did you see the sunrise?"
"I did."
"Were you alone?"
Diana hesitated for the briefest moment.
She glanced at Ethan, who quietly looked away to give her privacy.
"No," she said with a small smile. "I made a new friend."
Sophia giggled.
"A boy?"
Diana laughed.
"Finish your breakfast first before you start asking questions like that."
"I'll ask more when you get home!"
"I know you will."
After ending the call, Ethan smiled.
"Your daughter?"
"The center of my world."
"I could tell."
"How?"
"The way your face changed when you answered."
Diana looked down, smiling.
"She's eight."
"I hope I get to meet the little detective someday."
She looked at him curiously.
"And why would you?"
Ethan hesitated just long enough for her to notice.
"Because..."
He smiled, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I have a feeling this won't be the last sunrise we share."
For reasons she couldn't explain, Diana hoped he was right.
- Writer
