Chapter 3

3.

In the afternoon, someone knocked on my front gate.

Piper Ross stood at the doorway wearing an oversized hoodie and jeans, carrying a backpack. The moment I opened the door, a radiant smile bloomed across her face.

"Hey, Logan! I'm heading up the mountain to paint tomorrow's sunrise and camp out tonight. Want to come along?"

As if worried I would decline, she quickly added, "The stars up there are breathtaking."

She pointed toward the mountain ridge rising not far behind our cottages.

I knew that trail; it was a well-known spot that drew most of the town's tourists.

A spark of interest stirred inside me.

"Don't worry, I camp all the time. It's totally safe and I know what I'm doing."

Seeing this young girl earnestly assuring me not to be afraid gave me a sensation I had never felt before.

Swept up by her warm invitation, I gave a nod.

Piper was just as experienced as she claimed.

She darted back into her place and returned with two lightweight camping packs, along with a tote full of art supplies.

I couldn't help wondering what kind of family raised such an extraordinary girl―sunny, cheerful, and fiercely independent.

When I offered to carry her gear, she didn't hesitate. She handed me one of the packs and beamed, "Thanks, Logan! You're a lifesaver."

On our hike up the trail, we talked about our pasts and our dreams.

My past was remarkably dull.

Everything had revolved around the Sinclair family and Valerie.

In the end, I had simply become the laughingstock of high society.

Piper was the exact opposite of me. She had an endless stream of fascinating stories and boundless excitement for the future.

Looking at her, I felt a wave of genuine admiration for someone younger than myself.

Picking wild daisies along the path, Piper smiled at me. "We only get around thirty thousand days on this earth. My dream right now is to be a famous painter, so I have to give it everything I've got, right?"

She suddenly leaned in close and whispered, "I'll let you in on a secret. I actually ran away from home. If you wake up one day and my house is empty, my family probably dragged me back."

Her quirky, mischievous expression made me burst into laughter.

To think we were both runaways.

The difference was that her family would come looking for her, while my departure was probably something Valerie celebrated.

We reached the summit just in time for the golden hour.

The sky melted into rich amber and rose hues, casting a warm blanket over the earth.

Looking down at the town below, bathed in soft evening light, everything felt peaceful and still.

Piper and I got straight to work setting up the tents.

I asked her, "The sunset is gorgeous too. Aren't you going to paint it?"

Hammering in a stake, she replied, "I prefer the sunrise. It represents a fresh start, full of endless chances and possibilities."

I mimicked her movements to pitch the tent, her words echoing repeatedly in my mind. A fresh start.

Walking away from Valerie and the Sinclair family was the best decision I had ever made in my entire life.

Yet up until now, I had acted like a cowardly fugitive.

I had hidden myself in a remote corner of the country, locking myself behind garden walls.

I hadn't even thought about my future, as if planning to let my youth wither away in obscurity.

I was only twenty-seven years old. My life was full of infinite possibilities.