I remember when Ontario first started talking about Family Day. To have a stat holiday in February to break up the monotony of winter, especially that long wait from January first all the way to whenever Good Friday landed felt too good to be true. It happened and for all these years, it has been a welcome day! An extra day to sleep in, relax and spend time with family.
I had already done some work on this but didn’t have it ready in time for Valentine’s Day when I should have released it to you but Family Day is a good day to share it with you.
A short story, just for Valentine’s Day! Enjoy!
Journey of Forever
The February wind swept in off Lake Huron, carrying that familiar mix of cold and comfort that only Goderich locals truly understood. There’s always something about being near the water that drew people back to the shoreline over and over again.
On the boardwalk along the beach, two people found themselves arriving at the same spot at the same time.
Mara was a writer who’d recently returned home after decades away. She came to the lake every evening to clear her mind. Life hadn’t been easy and she’d decided, when she turned fifty, it was time to go home.
Evan was a photographer starting fresh after a burnout from a long career as a financial advisor. He’d remembered this town from his childhood. It brought back fond memories of his grandmother. He’d turned his hobby into his career and was chasing the perfect winter sunset.
They noticed each other first by accident when Mara stepped into Evan’s shot. Evan apologized too many times, and both ended up laughing at the awkwardness. But something about the moment felt intentional at the same time.
Over the next few weeks, their paths kept crossing. At the café where she often sat writing, at the library and, of course, at the beach, even on days when the wind stung their faces. Each meeting felt like a gentle nudge.
On Valentine’s Day, Mara found an envelope tucked under a smooth stone on her favourite bench near the playground overlooking the lake. No name. Just a simple message:
“Meet me where the light never dims.”
She hesitated for a moment wondering exactly what was happening. She felt excitement despite everything being so uncertain. She turned and looked high above her at the lighthouse before she walked over to the stairs and began the climb.
Evan stood at the top, camera in hand snapping pictures, cheeks pink from the cold. He smiled when he saw her. “I wasn’t sure you’d come,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure who I’d find,” she replied with a wink.
He handed her a photograph.
She took it from him, a puzzled look on her face.
“It’s the sunset from the night we first met,” he told her.
She looked at it and instantly noticed the soft pink and gold melting into the horizon.
Evan reached a finger around from behind the photo and pointed. In the corner of the image, something shimmered: a faint reflection in the water that looked almost like a heart.
Her breath caught.
“I didn’t notice it until I developed the photo,” Evan said. “Maybe it was just a trick of the light but maybe it was a sign. Either way it felt like something worth sharing.”
Mara traced the outline with her thumb. “We can only wonder,” she murmured.
They stood together as the sun dipped low. Moments later it painted the sky in shades of pink and purple that felt like hope. The wind felt like it finally eased off slightly and it suddenly felt quiet.
For the first time in a long time, both of them felt the possibility of something new.
“Evan,” Mara said softly, “do you believe in second chances?”
He looked at her, his eyes warm. “I believe in whatever this is.” He offered his hand.
She slipped her hand into his, and the moment settled around them like a promise.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Mara,” he said.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she replied.
The icy lake disappeared into the darkness while they took the first few tentative steps on their own quiet journey of forever.
My Writing Path 