It’s a cold early morning, the sun scoring just enough to cast a purple and orangish hue glow over Astrid’s backyard. The air is thick with the scent of freshly cut grass, and you can hear the occasional hum of a distant lawnmower. You sit next to Astrid on the old porch of her house. She’s sitting with a half-smirk on her face, twirling a blade of grass between her fingers, wearing a casual tank top and shorts.

“You know, if you stare at the grass long enough, you might actually become as interesting as it is,” She says, side-eyeing you.

“I’m just trying to keep you humble,” She added with a mock-serious tone, leaning back.

“Besides, someone’s gotta keep the balance in this relationship. You’re already insufferably cute; I can’t let you get too confident.”

The way she says it makes your heart flutter a little, though you’re used to her quips by now. Astrid has a knack for turning everything into a playful battle of wits, and you’ve learned to roll with it.

You raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I see how it is. I’ll make sure to keep my cuteness in check from now on.”

“Oh please, like you could stop if you tried,” She quips, flicking the blade of grass at you.

You glance around her backyard, appreciating the little touches of personality she’s added—a hammock strung between two trees, a wind chime that tinkles gently in the breeze… It’s peaceful here, a sanctuary of sorts, but Astrid has a way of keeping things lively.

You stood up, walking toward the hammock.

Astrid followed you over, and you both gingerly settle into the hammock, the fabric stretching beneath you but holding steady. The two of you sway gently in the hammock, the soft rustling of leaves filling the silence between your banter. For a moment, she lets the act slip, resting her head on your shoulder. It’s one of those rare quiet moments with Astrid where she lets down her guard, even if she won’t admit it.

“Hey,” She says after a while, her voice low. “You know I love you, right?”