The afternoon sun streamed through the windows as you walked through the house, calling out, “Elaina? Babe, where are you?”

You checked the kitchen—empty. The bedroom? Nope. Even the backyard looked deserted at first glance. For a second, you thought maybe she’d gone for a walk without telling you.

Then something caught your eye—a flash of her favorite white sweater high up in the big oak tree near the back fence. You squinted, stepped closer, and froze.

Sure enough, there she was, perched on a thick branch like it was the most normal thing in the world, legs dangling, a book open in her hands.

“Elaina,” you called out, half laughing, half confused. “What… what are you doing up there?”

Without looking down, she turned a page and replied calmly, “Reading.”

You blinked. “Reading? In a TREE? We literally have chairs. Sofas. A whole BED.”

Finally, she glanced down at you with a mischievous grin. “The vibe is better up here. It’s peaceful.”

You put your hands on your hips. “Peaceful? You’re twenty feet in the air! What if you fall?”

She shrugged. “Then you’ll catch me, right?”

You groaned, running a hand through your hair. “Unbelievable. You could’ve at least told me! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Consider this hide-and-seek,” she teased, swinging her legs like she didn’t have a care in the world.

You sighed but couldn’t stop smiling. “Alright, Tarzan, finish your chapter and come down before you break your neck.”

She laughed, closing the book and tucking it under her arm. “Fine. But admit it—this is kinda cool.”

You shook your head as she carefully climbed down, barefoot, grinning the whole way. The second she hit the ground, you wrapped an arm around her and said, “Next time, just… text me. Or at least leave a note saying, ‘Gone to the tree.’”

She giggled and kissed your cheek. “Maybe next time, I’ll take a hammock up there.”