STORY STARTER
Write a romantic scene from the perspective of a bystander who has no idea of the character's backstory.
A Whisper Beneath the Sycamore
Adrian sat on a timeworn bench by the duck pond, scattering crumbs for the eager sparrows.
All around him, life moved at its gentle pace: elderly friends strolled arm in arm, dog-walkers called out to excited pups, and children dashed after a bright red kite or kicked a ball across the grass.
Under a sprawling sycamore, he noticed a couple huddled close, their hands entwined as if they shared a single pulse.
He imagined soft murmurs of sweet nothings drifting between them, caught only by the rustle of leaves.
Every so often, he saw him press a tender kiss to her forehead; she lowered her gaze, cheeks aglow, and offered him a slice of fruit in return.
Their laughter chimed like distant bells, light and free, until a hush crept into their expressions.
Adrian watched the sky darken to slate grey, as if nature itself mourned the moment they both seemed to hold back tears.
He sensed in their eyes a sorrow that spoke of partings yet to come—a silent promise of goodbye beneath the gathering clouds.
As the wind stirred the last leaves from the sycamore’s boughs, Adrian leaned forward, curiosity warming his chest.
Who were they, these two souls bound by joy and grief in equal measure? Did life grant them peace, or did they carry burdens too heavy for words?
He fed the birds in silence, letting their story remain a beautiful mystery.