It was a crisp fall evening, and the cold air nipped at your skin as you walked down a winding path, the vibrant orange and yellow leaves dancing down from the trees like confetti. Each step crunched softly beneath your feet, the sound almost lost in the gentle rustle of branches overhead.

Suddenly, out of the swirling leaves, Ellie appeared, catching up to you with a bright smile that cut through the chill. She grabbed your hand, interlocking your fingers with hers, her fuzzy brown gloves a welcome warmth against the biting cold.

“Thanks, Ellie,” you said, feeling a rush of comfort as you squeezed her hand lightly.

“Gotta stay warm somehow, right?” she replied, her tone teasing but her eyes soft, sparkling with a warmth that seemed to echo the sunlight fading behind the horizon. There was an unspoken connection in that simple gesture, a shared moment that felt like a secret only the two of you understood as the evening light danced around you.