It was a serene Tuesday morning, and the calendar marked June 11th – Emily's birthday. As the first rays of sunlight painted the sky with a golden hue, she stirred awake, her heart already feeling a tad lighter than the week before.

Before getting up, Emily indulged in a pleasant stretch and let out a sleepy yawn. She put on her slippers and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. As she peered into the bathroom mirror, she caught a glimpse of herself, and what she saw surprised her. In the reflection, her eyes seemed to hold a spark that had been missing for a long time. It was as though hope had returned, like a long-lost friend knocking at the door of her soul.

Once ready to face the day, Emily stepped outside into the embrace of nature. Her horses awaited her. As she approached them, she saw that they, too, seemed to sense her buoyant spirits, and their own delight was evident in the joyful neighs and spirited dances of their hooves. Hazel, her closest equine friend, playfully nudged Emily's side with her head, almost as if encouraging her to share her feelings. Emily smiled and said, "I know, I know. I'll tell you all about it."

Conversations with her horses had become a norm, a source of comfort in times of trouble. Emily found that even though the horse couldn't respond in words, the connection between them was profound, and she always felt a sense of relief after unburdening her troubles. But this day was different - Emily had a tale of joy to narrate. She had spent an evening with Alex, and it had left her brimming with happiness. As she animatedly recounted the details to Hazel, she noticed the horse's response. It was as if Hazel, too, understood the elation in her heart, and together they revelled in the shared moment of happiness.

The stable gates opened, releasing the horses to frolic freely on the vast property. Seeing them run and play, their happiness palpable, brought Emily immense joy. She returned to the house, a skip in her step, and decided to make her usual morning coffee. But today, there was a twist - she couldn't resist adding a touch of celebration. She rummaged through the refrigerator and found an old brownie, which she promptly placed on a saucer. A single candle adorned the makeshift birthday treat. With the candle lit, Emily closed her eyes and made a wish - a wish for the feeling of happiness and hope to last forever.

The simple act of making a wish, something she hadn't done since her father's passing, signified the change within her. Life had not always been kind, and she had felt like an island adrift in a sea of troubles. Yet, Alex's presence had breathed new life into her world. As the water boiled for her coffee, her lips curled into a smile as she savoured the anticipation of seeing him again. She couldn't help but feel that a new chapter in her life was unfolding - a chapter filled with hope, joy, and the promise of better tomorrows.

Seated on the porch, she cradled a book in one hand while clutching her coffee in the other—as was her customary scene. A devotee of fantasy novels, she opted for a shift into the realm of romance this time. As the pages whispered their tales to her, a sudden gust of wind played mischievously with the book, coaxing the pages to dance. Reacting swiftly, she steadied the book, only to be interrupted by a familiar call slicing through the air, tugging her attention upwards. Beyond the stable's shadow, a solitary figure emerged.

"Not again," she exhaled, her words a mixture of exasperation and reluctance.

The figure started to slowly approach her, but this time, she chose not to flee. Instead, she surrendered to a peculiar courage, closing her eyes to confront the presence that persistently invaded her world.

Nope. Not today. You are not real, so just go away, she asserted internally, employing her willpower to dispel the unsettling images.

Despite her closed eyelids, she sensed the figure's unwavering gaze fixed upon her. It inched closer, encroaching on her senses. Gritting her teeth, she repeated her mantra, this time with increased fervour, You are not real. I'm finally feeling better, and you are not ruining it.

In an eruption of sound and defiance, she unleashed her pent-up frustration into the air, her voice ringing out, "GO AWAY!"

Miraculously, as if yielding to her command, the wind subsided. With a shudder of relief, tranquillity descended upon her being, replacing the tension that had gripped her. She was certain that the figure had relented. Slowly, she opened her eyes, reassured to find herself alone on the porch. It was a sensation of triumph, an elation that swelled beyond its prior boundaries, amplifying the joy that had coursed through her before the encounter.

When Emily stepped into her workplace that morning, even her colleague couldn't miss the noticeable skip in her step. Curiosity got the better of Lydia, and she playfully inquired, "What's got you in such a good mood?"

Emily responded with a shrug and a smile, "It's a beautiful day today. The weather's got me all hyped."

Lydia raised an eyebrow, sensing there might be more to it, but she decided not to pry. The two of them were mere colleagues and didn't share a close friendship beyond work. Emily had her reasons for being guarded; her past had made her hesitant to form deep connections with others. 

The day at the nursery commenced with the arrival of the children, except for one, Marnie, who was conspicuously absent. Concerned, but more so curious about Alex, Emily decided to approach Principal Kargle and knocked on her office door. Mrs Kargle's response was curt, "Yeees?"

Emily entered the room and cautiously inquired, "Sorry to bother you. I was just wondering if you knew if everything was alright with Marnie."

Mrs Kargle glanced at Emily over her glasses, her expression betraying a flicker of recognition. It seemed she was starting to piece together that Emily might be connected to the reason why Alex didn't come to pick up Marnie on time the day before. Rather than answering directly, Mrs Kargle responded sternly, "I wouldn't recommend going there, Miss Ewans."

Embarrassment washed over Emily, and she found it difficult to maintain eye contact. Feeling apologetic, she muttered, "I'm not. I was just worried, that's all. Sorry, again."

As she began to make her way out, something inside Emily sparked, and she abruptly turned back, marching back into the office with newfound courage. "If I want to go there, I will. And with all due respect, I don't think it's any of your business. I did n-, I mean we, did nothing wrong. We were just talking and lost track of time. It happens. Get over it."

The principal's anger was evident, and Emily sensed she might have gone too far. She regretted her outburst and tried to rein herself in. She couldn't quite fathom where this surge of confidence had come from. Despite feeling embarrassed and sorry, Emily decided to stand her ground, realizing it was too late to retract her words.

Mrs Kargle glared at her and retorted, "If you're done with your temper tantrum, Miss Ewans, you may see yourself out. Thank you."
With a pointed gesture towards the door, she returned to her computer, dismissing Emily from the room.

Exiting the office, Emily took a deep breath and, with a hand covering her face, muttered to herself, "You idiot."

Amused, a familiar voice chimed in, "Is that your new nickname?"

Startled, Emily looked up and saw Alex standing in the hallway. Her surprise quickly gave way to a smile as he approached her. "Could you for once show up like a normal person?" she teased, though her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.

Alex chuckled, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "Where's the fun in that?" 

Emily opened her mouth to say something, but in that moment, she realized that his little sister wasn't with him. "Where's Marnie? Is everything okay?" she inquired, her brow furrowing slightly with worry.

Leaning casually against the wall, he reassured her with a relaxed grin, "She's at the coffee house with Annie. I came by to tell you that I'll be spending the day with her, to make up for yesterday's screw-up."

Relief washed over Emily, and Alex continued: "Anyway, I would've sent you a message so you wouldn't have to worry, but for that, I'd need your mobile number first. Hence the reason I'm here."

Blushing faintly, she replied, "Oh, well, for that, I'd need to have a mobile number."

In response, Alex's smirk grew. "What do you mean you don't have a number?"

Emily's eyes darted to the ground, her cheeks flushing a bit more. "I mean, I don't own a mobile," she admitted, feeling a touch embarrassed by the revelation.

Not one to miss an opportunity, Alex took a step closer, deliberately standing only a few inches from her. The proximity sent a jolt of excitement through Emily, making her heart race. The magnetic pull between them was palpable, and she found herself feeling thrilled and nervous in his presence.

"In that case," Alex's voice took on a warm, inviting tone, "I guess I'll just have to come and see you more often."

Trying to faint a composed demeanour, Emily managed a nonchalant response, though her voice betrayed a hint of nervousness, "I guess you will."

As Alex stood just inches away, Emily found it hard to tear her eyes away from his lips. They were soft and slightly parted, hinting at the warmth of his breath. A wave of heat washed over her cheeks, realizing she had been caught stealing a glance at them. As if he could read her thoughts, Alex's lips curved into a knowing smile, and his eyes twinkled with amusement. He was aware of the effect he had on her and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. Caught in her momentary vulnerability, Emily quickly averted her gaze and took a small step back. She felt both embarrassed and exhilarated by her own reaction to him. 

"Okay then," he said with a playful grin. "I need to go now, but how about I pick you up after work?"

Her heart pounded with happiness, but she tried to keep her cool and replied, "Sure. I'll see you then."

With a parting smile, Alex said, "See ya, Em," before confidently strolling away. 

As Emily watched him go, she felt a tingling sensation, a mix of butterflies and excitement, but she knew she had to compose herself quickly. She took a deep breath to steady herself and snapped her hairband on her wrist, a small ritual she used to collect her thoughts. Turning on her heel, she headed back into the playroom, trying to shake off the intoxicating effect Alex had on her. However, her attempt to compose herself was cut short when she noticed Lydia standing by the door, an amused expression playing on her lips. 

"Is that the weather you were talking about?" she said playfully, clearly having witnessed the interaction. 

Emily blushed a bit, her cheeks warming at the thought of Lydia noticing her reaction. Trying to play it cool, she replied, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sure you do. But I should tell you, she saw it as well," Lydia mentioned, gesturing discreetly toward Mrs Kargle's doors.

Emily's complexion paled instantly. "Crappity crap!" she silently cursed. "Just perfect. And I was just assuring her that nothing was happening," she admitted to Lydia. 

Lydia arched an eyebrow, quizzically implying, "Oh, really? So there is something after all?"

Emily stammered, "Oh, no, absolutely not," her words becoming somewhat indistinct. She added a couple more "no's," as if trying to reassure herself of the validity of her own statement.

Lydia's smile widened, and she gave a knowing nod. "Mhm," she responded with a playful tone, but she didn't pry any further. Instead, the both of them focused on their work.

Despite her best efforts to focus, Emily found her mind wandering to thoughts of Alex, his lips, and the magnetic pull she felt toward him. Throughout the day, Lydia seemed to sense Emily's distraction but didn't press her for details. They worked well together, knowing each other's cues and routines, even if they weren't particularly close outside of work. Emily appreciated Lydia's ability to read her without prying, allowing her to keep her thoughts and emotions to herself. As the day at the nursery drew to a close, and the children were safely handed over to their parents or guardians, Emily's heart quickened as she thought about Alex's impending visit.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Lydia said playfully while bidding farewell to Emily. 

Emily rolled her eyes and smiled. "Goodbye, Lyd." 

Just then, Mrs Kargle emerged from her office, clearly ready to head home. Lydia sensed the tension and quickly excused herself. Emily stood there, waiting for Mrs Kargle to say something. The principal cleared her throat, almost as if preparing herself for the conversation that was about to take place.

"That was an inappropriate work behaviour, Miss Ewans. If such an event was to repeat itself, there will be sanctions, I assure you," she stated sternly, addressing the incident earlier in the day. "And I don't just mean the incident in my office, but the one outside of it as well."

"I understand, Mrs Kargle. I apologize. It won't happen again," Emily replied, her tone sincere.

"I should hope so. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"See you tomorrow, Mrs Kargle," Emily replied, maintaining a professional demeanour.

However, just as Mrs Kargle was about to leave, she turned back and offered some unexpected advice, her tone softer. "I hope you know what you're doing. For yours and his sake."

Emily saw a gentle and sincere twinkle in her eyes. It was evident that the stern and seemingly cold principal cared deeply for Alex. Her words left Emily intrigued, sparking a mix of curiosity and concern. She wondered what she meant by her cryptic comment. It felt like there was a side of Alex she hadn't seen, perhaps a part of his past he hadn't revealed to her yet. She reminded herself that they barely knew each other. Just like she had her own difficult past, she respected that Alex might have his own share of complexities and experiences. However, her curiosity had been piqued, and she couldn't help but wonder how to approach such a sensitive subject. All she knew was that she cared for him, and she wanted to understand him better. And she hoped the feeling was mutual.