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Seraphina could never have guessed that, after eight long years, Leandro’s promise to
“grow old together” would still echo in her ears as if it were just yesterday.
How had she responded back then? She hadn’t. Overcome with shyness, she couldn’t find
her voice.
Just then, an empty taxi happened to pass by. Noticing the couple on the side of the road,
the driver pulled over willingly.
Seraphina quickly slipped her hand out of Leandro’s and hurried into the taxi.
Her cheeks were aflame, and in the presence of the stranger driving, she dared not look
back at Leandro. Seeing her flustered state, he didn’t press further. Instead, he told the
driver, “Buddy, it’s starting to snow. Drive safe, and don’t let her get a scratch.”
“Don’t worry,” the driver responded with a nod, “I’ve been behind the wheel for twenty
years. Safety is my middle name!”
Leandro then gave Seraphina another glance and asked, “You’ll be back early tonight?”
“I’ll return in the afternoon,” Seraphina quickly replied.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtLeandro chuckled softly, said no more, and stepped aside.
The taxi pulled away slowly. Seraphina didn’t dare to look at Leandro until they were some
distance away. Then, ever so cautiously, she edged closer to the window to glimpse back
at where he stood.
He remained in the same spot, unmoving, as the snow began to fall thicker. The
snowflakes settled in his hair, a makeshift emblem of their unfulfilled promise of growing
old together.
Now, as the snow danced around her, she realized it was far heavier than in years past.
But today, chances were slim they would share another snowy walk.
Snapping back to the present, Seraphina was about to help Valerio into the car when she
noticed Leandro’s vehicle was missing.
“Where’s your car?” she asked, surprised.
“The theater’s got a show tonight; the street’s closed,” Leandro explained. “I had to park
at the corner.”
Seraphina paused for a moment.
“Let’s walk over,” Leandro suggested.
Hearing this, Seraphina instinctively raised her eyes to the swirling snow above.
Before she could look away, warmth enveloped her neck.
Turning, she saw Leandro taking off his own scarf and wrapping it around her bare neck.
“I’m not cold,” Seraphina protested.
“Better safe than sorry,” Leandro insisted, allowing no room for argument.
Valerio stood aside, grinning foolishly as he watched them.
Seraphina shot him a glance and then pulled his hood over his head.
His excitement was unmistakable; upon donning the hood, he couldn’t help but jiggle with
joy.
Since their reunion, Valerio rarely showed such excitement. Whether it was the snowfall or
the rare moment of them being together, it was hard to tell.
Leandro took Valerio by the hand and led him down the sidewalk, and Valerio happily
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmreached out his other hand to Seraphina.
Seeing the little hand stretched out before her, and the man standing behind it, Seraphina
let out a sigh and finally grasped it, stepping into the thickly falling snow.
She was no longer the bashful seventeen-year-old girl. The old phrase “Snow in the hair is
as good as time shared” would now seem cloy and laughable. But as the three of them
joined hands and ventured into the snowy expanse, the words came back to her.
Only now, what she longed for was no longer just a shared journey into their twilight
years.
Seraphina looked down at Valerio, who was gleefully hopping from one hand to the other
in theirs. He was bouncing with such delight, as if he were about to take off into the air,
and neither Leandro nor Seraphina wanted to dampen his spirits.
In the light snow, the family of three cast long shadows in the dim and interlacing light…
The short walk felt like an eternity.
Reaching the parked car at the corner, Leandro opened the door and helped an overjoyed
Valerio inside before turning to Seraphina and gently kissing her.
In the midst of the snowstorm, their faces were cold to the touch.
But the kiss was sweet, just like old times.
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