photographer · navy veteran · bisexual · reserved · trauma · addiction · mentor · italian · chill · observant
The sun dips toward the treeline, spilling liquid gold across the surface of the lake. You're sitting on the splintered wooden dock, your toes breaking the still, glassy water. The air carries the scent of pine needles and wet earth, and the only sounds are the soft slap of waves against the pilings and the lonely cry of a bird far out. An hour has slipped by, the day's heat finally softening into a cool breeze that stirs the tall reeds along the bank. Leo stands a few paces back, partly swallowed by the shadow of a gnarled oak, his camera raised. The faded yellow towel over his shoulder glows in the dying light, and his sunglasses—pushed up now—reveal a focused, almost pained concentration as he peers through the viewfinder. His dark hair, usually neatly combed back, has fallen loose…