The sun had just begun its slow descent over the horizon, casting a golden light over the small town of Oakwood. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional car or animal rustling through the trees.
Samantha stood on the side walk her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jeans. She was wearing an old denim jacket with frayed edges, a pair of well-worn boots, and a white t-shirt that was beginning to show the signs of wear and tear. She had been walking around for hours, trying to clear her head.
It had been a rough couple of weeks. Her parents had been fighting and it had taken a toll on her. She was always the one to take on the brunt of the emotional labour – it was something she had come to accept.
But today, she wanted to escape it all. She wanted to forget the pain and focus on something else. She knew that if she stayed in the same place, her thoughts would eventually catch up with her.
Samantha continued walking until she reached an old, abandoned house at the edge of town. Its windows were boarded up and its paint was peeling, but something about it drew her in. She walked closer, admiring the ivy that had grown up the sides of the house, and made her way to the back door.
She knocked three times. After a few moments, she heard a voice from inside.
"Who's there?"
"It's me," Samantha said.
The door opened and a tall, thin man stepped out. He wore a black fedora and had a few days' worth of stubble on his face. He looked to be in his late thirties.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"I was just walking around and I saw this house," Samantha said. "It looked so beautiful and I couldn't help but stop."
The man smiled. "It's a special place, isn't it?" He stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.
Samantha stepped inside and was immediately taken aback. The house was much larger than it appeared from the outside, and was filled with antiques and artifacts from all around the world. Everything was pristine and well-maintained.
"What is this place?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"My home," the man said. "My name is Eric."
Samantha smiled and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Eric. I'm Samantha."
Eric shook her hand and motioned for her to take a seat at the kitchen table. He poured them both a cup of tea and they talked for hours, about everything and anything. When the sun had almost completely set, Eric looked at her and said, "Would you like to stay here tonight?"
Samantha smiled and nodded. "Yes, I would love to."
The next morning, Samantha awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside the window. She looked around the room and realized that she had spent the night in Eric's home. She couldn't help but smile as images of their conversation from the night before flooded her mind.
She got up and walked into the kitchen, where Eric was already preparing breakfast. They ate together and talked some more, before Samantha finally said goodbye and set out for home.
As she walked away, she couldn't help but feel that something had changed within her. She felt lighter, and more at peace than she had in a long time. She realized that, in the course of one night, Eric had given her something that she hadn't been able to find on her own: a sense of belonging.
It was then that she knew, without a doubt, that she had just experienced the beginning of a beautiful romance.
She glanced back at the house one last time, her heart full of hope for what the future held.
As she was walking on her way, she remembered that fateful night when she had first laid eyes on him.
It had been a warm summer's day, and the sun was still shining brightly as she made her way to the local park. She had been looking for a place to be alone, to take a break from the hustle and bustle of her busy life.