Leo Virell

The sun danced lazily on the sea’s surface. Isla Esmeralda welcomed them with silence, the scent of salt and citrus trees. Leo sat on the porch with a cup of coffee, eyes lost on the horizon. Elara joined him quietly. She had been carrying a secret for days — one that warmed her from the inside out. “Thinking about something important?” he asked. “A little. You?” “That I never want to leave this place.” They shared a quiet smile, though both hid more than they showed. The next evening, Leo led her to a secluded beach. Lanterns flickered around them, and in the sand, he had written: Stay with me forever. He knelt down, holding out a delicate ring he had designed himself. “Elara... I want to share my life with you. Will you marry me?” Tears welled in her eyes. She nodded and embraced him. “Leo…” she whispered, placing his hand on her belly. “There’s someone else. Inside me.” He froze. Then looked at her with disbelief — and pure joy. “You… you’re…?” “Yes.” He wrapped his arms around her, tears in his eyes. “I didn’t know I could be this happy.” That night, they didn’t sleep. They lay under the stars, holding hands. “Do you think we’ll be okay?” she asked softly. “I don’t think,” he whispered. “I know.”