“Exactly,” I whisper.
She takes a few shots, then lowers the camera, smiling.“You make it sound like art isn’t about what you see. It’s about what you feel.”
I nod.“That’s because it is.”
For a while, we just move around the ridge. I take pictures of the sunlight filtering through the branches, the shadows shifting over the valley, Grace sitting on a rock with her knees tucked up, her face turned toward the endless sky.
Neither of us speaks. The quiet feels peaceful, almost sacred.
Then, out of nowhere, Grace says,“Penny… can I ask you something?”
I lower the camera, sensing the change in her tone.“Sure.”
Her fingers twist the hem of her sweater.“Have you ever loved someone that you knew could never love you back?”
The question settles between us like fog. I let out a slow breath.“No,” I admit.“Mark was my first boyfriend. And in a weird, twisted way, he did love me back.”
“Oh.” Grace’s voice softens. She looks away, watching the valley below.
I tilt my head.“Are you in love with someone who doesn’t love you back?”
She hesitates, eyes glassy with something unspoken.“I’ve loved this guy since I was sixteen,” she whispers.“But he doesn’t see me that way. Or maybe he does, but… it’s complicated.”
I bump my shoulder gently against hers.“Any guy who doesn’t see how beautiful, smart, and funny you are is an idiot if you ask me.”
She laughs under her breath, but it’s a sad little sound.“Even if he did feel something for me, it would still be impossible.”
“Why impossible?”
Grace looks down at her hands.“A few weeks ago, I went to this party and drank too much. I called him to pick me up. In the car, I… kissed him.” She blinks fast, fighting tears.“He pushed me off. Told me I was drunk. Said never to do that again because…” her voice breaks, “…because he doesn’t feel the same way.”
I reach over and take her hand.“Grace, you deserve someone who can’t wait to kiss you. Someone who looks at you and sees everything you are, your fire, your kindness, your heart, and wants to protect it, not push it away.”
She nods, wiping at her cheek.“It’s just… hard. My brothers make it even worse.”
I arch a brow.“How so?”
Grace huffs a laugh, a spark of mischief through the tears.“Did you know every boy in town knows not to ask me out? My brothers threatened to castrate anyone who tried.”
I burst out laughing, and she does too.“Sounds like you’ve got your own personal security team.”
“Yeah, and I’d like to fire all of them,” she mutters.
“Then you find someone brave enough to face your brothers to be with you,” I say, smiling.“And when you do, I’ll talk to them for you.”
Her head snaps toward me.“You’d really do that?”
“Of course,” I grin.“You open your heart to someone who deserves it, and I’ll handle the brother problem.”
Grace laughs through the last of her tears, her green eyes brighter now.
“So…” I tease,“is there anyone at school you’ve got your eye on?”
A blush creeps up her cheeks.“There’s this new guy. Caleb. Moved here two weeks ago. He doesn’t know my brothers yet, so… he actually talks to me.”
I grin.“And he’s cute?”
She nods shyly.“Tall. Brown hair. Blue eyes. And he has this smile that just…” She exhales.“Yeah. I like his smile.”
