The summer we met

CHAPTER 5-Shells and sunset

Sunday morning arrived with clear skies and a gentle breeze.

Maya was sitting on the steps outside Seabreeze Café when her phone buzzed.

Noah: Beach walk?

Maya smiled.

Maya: Give me ten minutes.

She slipped her phone into her bag and headed toward the shore.

Noah was already waiting, camera hanging from his shoulder.

"You're early," Maya said.

"I've been here for twenty minutes."

"That's not early. That's impatient."

He laughed.

They walked along the water, their shoes sinking slightly into the warm sand.

Maya spotted a small seashell and picked it up.

"Look."

"It's nice."

"You don't sound impressed."

"I'm a photographer. I'm supposed to be impressed by everything."

Maya laughed and tossed the shell gently into her bag.

"Why do you take pictures?" she asked.

Noah thought for a moment.

"Because moments disappear."

Maya looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"You can have an amazing day, and then years later, you might barely remember it. But if you photograph something, you can look at it again."

Maya smiled.

"Then take lots of pictures this summer."

"I plan to."

They continued walking until they reached a quiet part of the beach.

Noah suddenly stopped.

"Wait."

He pointed toward the horizon.

The sky had begun changing colors.

Maya sat on the sand and watched the sunset.

"It's beautiful."

Noah lifted his camera.

"Don't move."

Maya turned toward him.

"Why?"

"Because the light is perfect."

Click.

Maya laughed.

"You really do photograph everything."

"Not everything."

He lowered his camera.

"Just the things I want to remember."

Maya looked toward the ocean, pretending not to notice how much his words affected her.

After a while, they sat quietly together.

Maya told him about her dream of opening a café after university.

Noah told her about the places he wanted to photograph one day.

"Maybe you'll travel around the world," Maya said.

"Maybe."

"And I'll have my café."

"Then I'll come back."

Maya smiled.

"You better."

The sun disappeared beneath the horizon.

Neither of them knew how quickly summer would pass.

For now, they had Azure Bay, their dreams, and each other.

And somehow, that felt like enough.