The Simplest Of Glows

The days pass slowly in the village, but something inside Luriana begins to change. Ever since she received that little blue notebook, her eyes see the world differently.

Now, when she opens the grocery store in the morning, she notices the way the light enters through the door and shines on the sacks of flour. She hears the birds chirping more clearly, the sound of footsteps on the street, the laughter of children running to school.

She starts writing in the notebook every night. At first, it is just short sentences. But over time, the pages fill with small discoveries:

"The smell of warm bread is an invisible hug."

"The sky changes color every afternoon as if it wants to surprise us."

"The flowers in Dona Amélia's window smile at those who pass by."

Vicente still visits the grocery store almost every day. Luriana no longer sees him as just a customer. He is different from everyone else in the village. He doesn't talk much about himself, but when he does, it feels like the world stops to listen.

One afternoon, Vicente enters the store and leans on the counter, smiling.

"Have you been writing?"

Luriana crosses her arms and pretends not to care.

"Maybe…"

He laughs and points to the door.

"Come take a walk with me."

She hesitates. Since when does she accept invitations from men she barely knows? But something inside her says she should go.

They walk side by side through the village streets until they reach a green field on the outskirts. The wind blows gently, and the scent of the earth mixes with the perfume of wildflowers.

"Have you noticed how everything here is simple and yet so full of life?" Vicente asks.

Luriana looks around. The field is not new to her, but today it seems different. The colors are brighter, the wind is fresher, the sun shines stronger.

"I've never seen it like this before," she admits.

Vicente sits on the grass and pats the ground beside him, inviting her to sit too.

"You know, Luriana, I have traveled a lot. I've seen huge cities, I've met all kinds of people. But true happiness is not in distant places. It is in learning to see the beauty of simple things."

She stays silent. She had never thought of life that way. She always believed she needed something new, something bigger. But what if everything she needed had always been right here?

The wind moves through Luriana's hair, and for the first time in a long while, she feels light.