RETURN TO RIVERWOOD

As the bus rattled along the winding roads, I leaned against the foggy window, watching the trees in a blurry view as we pass by. Riverwood. It had been three years since I left, and now I was finally moving back. The thought of it made my heart sore—a mix nerves and excitement swirling around inside me.

After a good 2 hours, the bus finally stopped moving, as soon as I got off the bus a deep feeling of Nostalgia hit me. Everything was different, the buildings, the people, the neighborhood etc...but I could almost still hear the echoes if my childhood here, back when life was simple and everything made sense.

"Sofia!" My moms voice cut through the noise of the station, and before I knew it I was wrapped around my mother's warm arms. "Oh Sof Sof, we missed you so much!"

"Mom," I managed to say, holding back tears. "I missed you guys too."

When she finally let go, I saw my dad

standing a little further from us, his eyes soft and warm. "You've grown so much princess," he said, his smile making his eyes crinkle.

"I guess three years will do that," I replied, trying to play it cool, even though I kind of felt like I kid again.

On our drive back home, I couldn't stop staring out the window. Even though times changed, It was like I went back in time—everything was exciting. The little shops on Main Street, the same old church with its renewed paint, and the park where I used to hang out with Emily and Jasmine. My heart squeezed thinking about about them. Would they still be the same? Would they even recognize me?

Later that afternoon, I decided to stop overthinking and just go see them. I walk the familiar streets, I ended up going to the park where we used to spend most of out time at. The closer I got the faster my heart pounded, you could almost hear it beat. "What if they had changed? And what if I changed too much," I thought to myself nervously.

When I reached the park entrance my face lit up, noticing my two best friends—Emily and Jas, sitting on the swings just like old times. I froze for a moment, not sure what to do. But then Emily look back and thought her eyes were deceiving her, she rubbed her eyes and noticed it was actually me. After years of no contact, she laughed in disbelief.

"Sof!" she yelled, jumping of the swing and running towards my direction, with her brown curls flying every.

Before I knew it, Jasmine was running towards me as well, both of the pulling me into the tightest group hug we've ever had. "We've missed you so much Sof!" Jas said, her voice full of excitement.

"I've missed you guys too," I said with my voice almost breaking. It felt refreshing seeing the people I gew up with, like nothing had changed at all.

We spent the next hour catching up on the towns latest tea, and it was like I never left. They told me about who was dating who, who had moved away. And I told them about the city, about my aunt and cousins, about all the crazy things that had happened while I was away. For a moment, everything felt perfect.

Just as we were about to visit the local diner for milkshakes to celebrate, Jasmine suddenly waved someone over. "Hey Luca! Over here!"

I turned to see who the person was, and my breath go caught in my throat. A tall okder looking guy with dark hair and piercing green eyes was walking towards us. There was this quiet intense vibe about him, and he moved with an effortless confidence that made it impossible to look away.

"Sof, Luca...Luca this is Sofia," Emily said as he reached us. "He moved here last year. We've all been hanging out ever since."

"Nice to finally meet you," Luca said, his voice low and smooth. His eyes met mine for just a second before he looked away, but that one look was enough to send a shiver down my spine.

"Nice to meet you too," I managed to say, hoping my voice didn't sound as shaky a I felt.

As we walked to the diner, I couldn't help sneaking glances at Luca. He was so different from anyone I'd ever met—he was quiet, almost brooding, but there was something about him that made me want to get to know him better. It was like he had this whole world inside him that he kept hidden from anyone else.

At the diner, Emily and Jasmine instantly began chatting away, I unintentionally found myself stealing more glances at Luca. He didn't say much, but when he did, it was like his words carried so much weight. I could figure him out, and that only made me more curious.

By the time we left the diner and headed home, all I could ever think of was him, I just couldn't stop. There was something about Luca Moretti that drew me in, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. As soon as I got ready for bed I laid in bed, staring up the ceiling, I had this feeling that meeting him was just the beginning. Something was about to change, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it—but I knew I couldn't turn away.

3:24 am, I couldn't sleep, lying there in my quiet room, I couldn't stop replaying the day in my head. The way the town changed yet still feels nostalgic, the warmth of my parents' welcome, the small catch up my friends and I had. And Luca—Luca was a puzzle that I was eager to solve. His presence lingered in my thoughts, a feeling that I couldn't quite shake.

I tossed and turned trying to get comfortable, but sleep just wouldn't come. Instead, my mind kept drifting back to the moment when our eyes locked, it felt like time was slowed down for a moment. " What was it that intrigued me so much?" I asked myself, I'd only just met him, and yet I was already looking forward to the next time our paths would cross.

After a few minutes of back to back thoughts , tossing and turning, I had finally given up on sleep and pushed back the sheets. The house was very quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old floorboards and the hum of cicadas outside. I went out to the balcony to catch some air, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. The night air was cool and crisp brushing my hair.