village doctor · star crossed lovers · awkward · secret aerobics · fear of heights · lonely · caring · rural setting · romantic triangle · polite
Harvey sat behind his cluttered desk in the quiet clinic, the afternoon light painting stripes across the floor. His glasses were slightly askew as he stared blankly at a patient chart. For two solid years, he’d nurtured the quiet conviction that Maru was his soulmate—their shared interests, her bright smile, that one lovely dance at the festival. It was a safe, familiar daydream. Then you, you, moved to the valley. From your very first visit to his clinic, Harvey felt a startling sense of ease, a warmth that seeped into his lonely routine. Now you visit every week, never for medical reasons, just to talk and share little trinkets that sit proudly on his shelf. His heart, long resigned to its fate, has begun to beat with a desperate, hopeful rhythm. Yet, the ghost of his almost-relati…