Maeve stepped out of the car, the gravel crunching under her heels, her heart in her mouth. She wasn’t normally late – as an art teacher at a high school, she worked by the clock. But this time, she had been fighting herself to show up.

The rustic barn, adorned with fairy lights and wildflowers, was a picture of countryside charm. A wave of nostalgia descended upon her – she hadn’t been back in years. Her eyes scanned the crowd, but Aspen was nowhere to be found.

Disappointed. The groom was a mutual friend, a close childhood friend of Aspen’s, in fact. Surely he was invited?

Suddenly, a familiar laugh boomed across the room. She turned, and there he was. Aspen. Taller, more confident, but with the same mischievous spark in his eyes. Relief washed over her, followed by a surge of excitement and then, shyness.

The wedding was in full swing, the barn filled with laughter and music. Maeve, nursing a glass of wine, observed Aspen from a distance. He’d glance back, and she’d coyly avert his gaze each time, only to unwittingly seek it again.

As the evening progressed, Maeve found herself cornered by a boisterous, slightly inebriated guest. His laughter, demeanour and compliments were increasingly intrusive. She tried to politely excuse herself, but he persisted, blocking her path.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the noise. “Excuse me,” Aspen said smoothly, stepping between Maeve and the unwelcome admirer. “I believe this dance has been reserved.” He extended his hand. “Shall we?”

Maeve eagerly accepted and she was whisked away in the safety of his strong arms. As the music worked its magic, the years melted away. Conversation flowed, their connection reignited.

“You’ve changed,” Aspen said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “City life suits you.”

“So have you,” Maeve replied, taking in his confident posture and easy smile. “And country living seems to agree with you.” She paused, then added with a playful grin, “And who’s the lucky lady who gets to enjoy this view every day?”

Aspen’s heart skipped a beat. He chuckled, as casually as possible. “No lucky lady, actually. You?” he countered, raising an eyebrow.

“Nope, free as a bird,” Maeve confirmed, a sense of relief washing over her at his answer.

“Good,” Aspen murmured, his gaze lingering on hers. “Very good.”

Later, escaping the throng of dancers for some fresh air, they found themselves outside the barn, leaning against a weathered fence, the night sky a breathtaking canvas above them.

“Do you still recognise this constellation, Maeve?” Aspen asked, tilting his head towards Orion. “You know, the ones we used to call the ‘Three Kings’ when we were kids?”

A smile touched Maeve’s lips. “How could I forget? We spent hours making up stories about Orion.”

“Yeah,” Aspen chuckled, “like how it’s actually a spaceship on a secret mission to Earth.”

“Or how the 3 stars are guarding a treasure map to a hidden planet,” Maeve added, her eyes sparkling with the shared memory.

“Good times,” Aspen said softly. “But there’s an actual legend about those stars, you know. They’re known as Orion’s Belt, and they say…” He paused, his voice taking on a storytelling quality, “they represent three hunters. The most skilled in the land, they used to roam these very hills.” He gestured towards the surrounding countryside. “Imagine them stalking deer through these woods, incredibly stealthy and precise.”

“Oh yes, right here in these now very barren lands,” Maeve chuckled, mimicking Aspen’s narration voice. Aspen continued, undeterred “They were pursuing a magnificent stag, said to be blessed by the forest goddess. But these hunters, blinded by their ambition, ignored all the warnings.”

He met her eyes. “The goddess, angered by their disregard, transformed them into those three stars.  Forever fixed in the sky, a reminder that even the most skilled must respect the balance of nature.”

“Spoken like a true wildlife conservationist…It’s a beautiful and haunting story,” Maeve said softly.

“It is,” Aspen replied. “It reminds us that we’re all connected – humans, animals, the land, the sky. It’s a delicate balance.” He smiled. “But I think we’re safe from magical stags tonight.”

Maeve laughed, the tension easing. “You never know. It might be watching us from the trees, waiting for all this commotion to stop”

A comfortable silence fell between them, the weight of the legend and their shared past mingling in the air.

“I should have recognised you right away,” Aspen said, a hint of regret in his voice.

“I would have kicked myself if we hadn’t talked,” Maeve admitted. “It’s been so long.”

“Too long,” Aspen agreed. He paused, then took a step closer. “Maeve, I…”

He paused.

“Do you have Instagram?” Maeve blurted out.

They exchanged contacts. A honk interrupted. Maeve’s taxi.

“I have to go,” she said. “I have papers to grade.”

“Wait,” Aspen said, his hand finding hers. “Can I see you again?”

Maeve smiled. “Yes, Aspen. I’d like that very much.”

As she left, she looked back at him. The wedding faded into the background. All that mattered was their rekindled connection, amplified by the anticipation of future messages.

A few days later, back in the city, her phone pinged. It was a message from Aspen: “Fancy a coffee tomorrow?”

They met the next morning. He looked the same, yet different. More mature, more confident. They spent the day wandering through the city, talking, laughing, and reconnecting. But beneath the easy conversation, Maeve felt a flicker of doubt.

As the sun began to set, Aspen walked her home. They stood outside her apartment building, the silence stretching between them. “I had a really nice time,” he said, his voice soft.

Maeve’s cheeks flushed. “Me too.” She hesitated, then added, “We actually never had that coffee…Maybe we could do this again sometime?”

“Definitely,” Aspen replied. He searched her face. “What is it, Maeve?”

She looked away, a lump forming in her throat. “It’s just… before I left for university, I tried to call you. But you never called back. I… I thought you didn’t want to stay in touch.”

Aspen’s expression softened. He looked down for a moment, then met her eyes with a sincerity that made her heart ache. “Maeve,” he began, his voice low, “I wanted to tell you at the wedding.” He paused. “I was an idiot back then. You were going off to university, and I… I guess I was intimidated. I thought you’d meet all these new fascinating city people, have all these incredible experiences, and I’d just be… forgotten.”

A sense of relief enveloped Maeve, tinged with a touch of something else, something warm and fluttery. “Oh, Aspen, I could never forget you,” she breathed, a warm smile forming on her lips. Her hands instinctively cupped Aspen’s face.

He leaned in, his lips brushing hers. A jolt of electricity shot through her. She didn’t pull away. The kiss deepened, years of unspoken longing and hidden feelings melting away.

When they finally broke apart, breathless and smiling, Aspen whispered, “Now, about that coffee…” He paused, then added, a hint of nervousness in his voice, “Do you have any good places around town?”

Maeve laughed, a playful glint in her eye. “Just one question first. Are you asking me out for coffee… or for coffees?”

Aspen’s smile widened. “Definitely coffees. Plural. Unless…” he mirrored her playful tone, “you’re actually allergic to caffeine?”

“Who cares? Plenty of other options out there,” Maeve replied, her heart soaring. “Speaking of which,I do seem to recall a certain someone having a serious hot chocolate addiction.”

“You can’t go wrong with a nice hot chocolate,” Aspen replied, his eyes twinkling.

And with that, any lingering doubts evaporated. They both knew this was more than just a rekindled childhood friendship. This was the start of something new, something exciting, something real, under Orion’s belt.

If something in this story sat with you, there’s more where this came from. Similar moments, questions and characters show up across three collections. Each one goes a little deeper.
Vol 1 — seasons, angels, and the art of living
Vol 2 — nature, history, and what echoes
Vol 3 — the mind, the mirror, and what we imagine