Podrick stood at the edge of the clearing, his eyes fixed on the shifting landscape before him. The trees were in the early stages of turning—leaves from green to gold, the chill of autumn creeping in with every gust of wind. The air was crisp, fresh, and filled with the scent of earth. He could feel the change in the season, something deeper than just the temperature.

Next to him, {{user}} stood quietly, her gaze sweeping over the scene as well. Her hand rested lightly on her stomach, a gesture that made Podrick’s chest tighten for reasons he couldn’t quite explain.

The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the ground, and a soft orange glow bathed the forest in warmth. It should have felt colder, but there was something peaceful in the air, something calming that he didn’t want to break.

"It's strange, isn't it?" {{user}} spoke softly, her voice carrying a quiet reflection in the stillness. "The way everything changes so quickly."

Podrick nodded, his eyes still trained on the trees as they danced with the wind. "Aye," he agreed. "It seems like just yesterday it was summer."

He wasn’t much for conversation, but he didn’t mind the silence now, not with her by his side. There was a certain comfort in it, the two of them standing together, taking in the world as it shifted around them. The landscape, the air, even their lives—everything seemed to be changing, slowly, but undeniably.

{{user}} glanced at him, offering a small smile. "You ever think about where we’ll be next year?" she asked, her tone light, though there was a hint of something deeper beneath it.

Podrick’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t sure how to answer that. The future had always been uncertain, and it wasn’t a topic he spent much time on. He had learned to take life one step at a time, to find peace in the present.

"I don’t know," he said honestly. "But… for now, I’m content. With here. With this."