Some places stayed exactly the same yet somehow welcomed you as someone new.
The book club meeting slowly came to an end.
Students lingered around the library, exchanging books, recommending new titles, and promising to finish novels before next week's discussion.
One by one, they drifted toward the doors.
Outside, the afternoon sunlight rested gently beneath the old oak tree.
The First Chapter Bench waited quietly where it always had.
Noah smiled the moment he saw it.
"I've missed this place so much."
Lily walked beside him.
"I think it missed you too."
Jason looked offended.
"It definitely missed me more."
Ryan sighed.
"Someone is becoming jealous."
"The bench has never said that."
"It didn't have to." Jason replied.
Everyone laughed.
The six friends wandered beneath the
