The October air in Berlin was crisp, filled with the smoky scent of roasted chestnuts and the earthy undertones of damp leaves—a sharp contrast to London’s wet chill that Amelia had grown used to. She took a deep breath, pulling her scarf tighter, clutching her suitcase as she stepped off the train at Berlin Hauptbahnhof. She’d been counting down to this moment for months.
After what felt like a lifetime apart, she was finally going to see Jake.
Their story had begun with a mishap on a rainy day in Toronto. She’d been working a late shift at a convenience store to save for her master’s degree when he came rushing in, soaked and flustered after realizing he’d left his wallet at home. Amelia laughed at his predicament, her quick wit making him smile, and before long, she’d learned his story—a writer-turned-consultant, curious and perpetually unprepared. Jake had an irreverent charm that brightened any room. After that night, they were inseparable—until ambition tugged them to opposite ends of the world.
Jake was stationed in Berlin, pouring himself into a high-stakes consulting project, while she was studying literature in London, pursuing her dream of becoming a professor. The months apart were harder than either had anticipated; texts and calls were poor substitutes for the warmth of an embrace, the comfort of shared silence. This trip was a lifeline, a chance to reconnect and see if they could make this work.
Amelia scanned the bustling platform, her gaze darting over travelers, her heart racing. Would he look the same? Would the connection still be there?
“Amelia!”
She spun around, and there he was, a familiar grin under a worn leather jacket. For a moment, she stood frozen, and then she moved without thinking, the suitcase forgotten.
“Jake!” Her voice caught between a laugh and a sob of relief.
He crossed the platform in a few strides, wrapping her in his arms, lifting her off her feet. The world faded.
“You’re finally here,” he murmured into her hair, his voice thick with emotion.
She melted into him, inhaling the familiar scent of leather and cologne, feeling her months of longing dissolve. “I missed you so much,” she whispered against his chest.
He pulled back to look at her, his blue eyes softer than she remembered. “Let me see you.” He studied her face, a glimmer of awe in his gaze. “Even more beautiful than I remembered.”
She rolled her eyes with a laugh, nudging him. “You always say that.”
“Because it’s always true.” He kissed her forehead, his warmth a balm to her lonely nights. “Come on,” he said, reaching for her suitcase. “Let’s get you home.”
