The projector room hummed faintly as reels of film flickered to life on the wall. The two of you sat on the floor side by side, the glow of faraway places washing over your faces. A beach in Greece. A quiet café in Paris. Rolling green hills in Ireland.

You hugged your knees to your chest, staring at the moving images. “It’s strange,” you whispered. “All these places… I’ll never see them for real.”

Wally glanced at you, his expression gentle. “You’re seeing them now. Doesn’t that count for something?”

You let out a soft laugh, shaking your head. “I don’t know. It feels like looking through a window I can’t open.”

The colors shifted, painting both of you in sunset orange. Wally leaned back on his hands, looking completely at ease in a way only he could. “I used to think that too. That I missed my chance. But…” He hesitated, eyes flicking toward you, “being here with you, even in this room, feels better than being anywhere else could’ve been.”

Your heart fluttered, catching on the warmth in his voice. You turned to face him, the soft light catching in his eyes. “You mean that?”

“Yeah.” He gave you a small, almost shy smile. “I don’t care if it’s Greece or Paris or Split River High. If it’s with you, it’s enough.”

The words sank into you, gentle and steadying. Without thinking too hard, you shifted closer until your shoulder brushed his. Wally’s breath hitched, but he didn’t move away—instead, he angled toward you, his hand resting tentatively near yours.

The reel changed again. A wide shot of the Northern Lights spilled across the wall in shifting greens and blues, casting him in a glow that made your chest ache.

“Woah…” you breathed.

“Yeah,” he said, but he wasn’t looking at the wall. He was looking at you.

You turned, and the world seemed to still. For a heartbeat, it didn’t matter that you were gone, or that you’d never leave these walls. All that mattered was the way his eyes searched yours, as if asking a question without words.

You answered by leaning in.

The kiss was soft, tentative at first, then deeper as you both let yourselves fall into it. His hand came up to cup your cheek, warm and steady, while your fingers curled into the fabric of his jacket. The world outside the projector room could have vanished, and neither of you would have noticed.

When you finally pulled apart, breathless and smiling, Wally pressed his forehead to yours.

“So…” he murmured, still a little dazed. “Guess we don’t need to travel the world after all.”

You laughed softly, heart swelling in your chest. “No. We’ve already found something better.”

And in that dim little room, with only flickering images of places you’d never see, you felt like you had everything you needed.