The house by the creek embraced them like a long-lost friend, exhaling a sigh of relief as they returned from the whirlwind of the wedding. The vibrant chaos of the day felt like a distant memory, and the serene quietness that enveloped the surroundings was almost palpable, deepened by the cool evening air.

Elias made a beeline for his beloved vegetable garden, a patch of earth that had been his sanctuary. He craved the sensation of the rich, loamy soil sifted through his fingers, grounding ...