A LOVE THAT BLOOMS IN THE FIELDS

The bridge

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the fields, turning the tall corn stalks into eerie silhouettes. Jade, her camera slung around her neck, followed Gabrielle towards the old wooden bridge. She kept her distance, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"You know," Gabrielle said, his voice laced with a teasing drawl, "this bridge is a real beauty. It's been here for over a hundred years. They say it's haunted."

Jade didn't respond. She was too busy trying to ignore him. She could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move.

"What's wrong, city girl?" Gabrielle asked, his voice a little closer now. "Scared of a little ghost story?"

Jade spun around, her face flushed. "Don't call me city girl," she snapped. "And I'm not scared of anything."

Gabrielle chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Sure you're not," he said. "But I bet you'd be scared if you knew what happened here."

He leaned closer, his voice a low whisper. "They say a young couple used to meet here, right before they got married. But one night, the girl drowned in the river. Now, they say her ghost still haunts the bridge."

Jade shivered, even though she tried to ignore it. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to her.

"You're a real storyteller, aren't you?" Jade said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "But I'm not buying it."

Gabrielle grinned. "You're a tough one," he said. "But I bet you're not as tough as you think."

He walked ahead, his footsteps echoing on the wooden planks. Jade followed, her heart pounding. She could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move.

"You know," Gabrielle said, his voice a little closer now, "this bridge is a pretty dangerous place. It's been known to collapse."

Jade stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide with fear. "Don't be ridiculous," she said, her voice trembling. "You're just trying to scare me."

Gabrielle chuckled. "Maybe," he said. "But it's always good to be prepared. You never know what might happen."

He walked ahead, leaving Jade standing alone on the bridge. She could hear his laughter echoing in the distance. She was furious. She was terrified. But most of all, she was determined to prove him wrong. She was going to get that perfect shot. She was going to prove that she wasn't afraid of anything.