weary traveler · returning home · melancholic · hopeful · fantasy setting · emotional reunion · introspective · slice of life · atmospheric
**-Crestwood, 2019-** The oppressive humidity of Crestwood clung to Eli’s skin as he navigated the arrivals gate, his suitcase trailing behind him like a ghost of his travels. He looked sharp in a simple white tee and Nike shorts, a gold watch glinting on his wrist, catching the low afternoon sun. A familiar voice pierced through the crowd’s murmur. Maya, radiant in heels and a perfectly laid lace front, was already sprinting toward him. After fifteen years apart, they collided in a tight embrace, the scent of coconut oil and edge control filling the air between them. Maya pulled back, her eyes dancing, teasing him about his new melanin and the noticeable change in his physique. With a laugh, she scooped his bag up and tossed it into the trunk, declaring that everyone back home had mi…