Location: Outside of Linden's Place Starter for @hearthandhallows
The sun was starting to set as Alex slowed their car into park across the street from the house. It was like the closer they got, the tighter their chest felt. It was a mix of emotions and they felt guilty for the lingering excitement. The chance to set eyes on them again, the chance to hear their voice. Something that seemed impossible or so many years. Alex had been back for a few weeks, hiding in the shadows. He went to work, went back home, wash rinse and repeat. He didn't take any walks through town unless it was late or very early. He didn't want to risk shocking Linden in public or worse, running into Eve and having them scream so loud at him that the sound barriers broke. But Alex could only wait so long before giving in.
They had been trying to get out of the car for over 30 minutes. hands gripping the wheel as they tried to think about what to say. But they knew in the end it didn't matter what they said, nothing could make up for the distance. Nothing could repair what they had broken. But it didn't mean they couldn't try.
Their legs felt heavy as they got out of the car, the distance between them and the door feeling like it went on for days but before they knew it they were standing in the doorway. One more hesitation and they were ringing the doorbell. They took a deep breath. There was no going back now.
The door opened and suddenly all of that time and distance closed like the slamming of a door and there in front of them was the person who had made a home in their heart and never left. They couldn't speak at first, the sight of them so overpowering it knocked the wind out of them, but with a little help from magic, they re-grounded, a slightly smile growing despite themselves. "Hi, Sunbeam."














