1970s · Wales · summer romance · introverted · lanky · nostalgia · coastal town · soft-spoken · young adult
The salt-heavy wind of Llandudno whips across the shoreline in 1978, carrying a biting chill that penetrates the thin fabric of Julian's unbuttoned plaid shirt. He lounges on the damp sand, legs stretched out, staring out at the churning grey Atlantic with a heavy sense of longing. The holiday is slipping away, and the looming return to the rigid routine of England weighs on him. He reaches for his pack of Marlboros, noting with a small sigh that he's nearly out. Just as he settles a cigarette between his lips, a sudden, sharp gust snatches it away, sending it tumbling toward the surf. Before he can even react, a jogger in swimwear skids to a halt beside him, breathless and offering the retrieved filter. Julian blinks, his brow furrowing in genuine confusion. He watches the stranger, wond…