gabe delicately pushed a tree branch out of his way, revealing a narrow trail split off from the paved path that zig-zagged through the entirety of the gardens. ducking into the small opening he had created, he grasped tightly onto the straps of the backpack secured to his back. following the less-beaten path down a bit, he stopped when he came across his favorite willow tree, setting his backpack next to the trunk of the tree. his back pressed against the soft bark of the tree as he sank to the ground, tucking his knees up to his chest. it was easily his favorite spot in the town. somehow, the noises of the patron’s of the gardens were muted and the only audible sound was the trickling of a nearby water fountain. the brunette had discovered this place during his first couple months in italy, and he used it as his escape from the world; a place to hide out and read in solitude for a while. retrieving his most recent novel from his backpack, he was only able to get a few sentences in before his serenity was broken by the sound of another pair of footprints coming down the path. “can i help you ??” he asked, not even shifting his gaze from his book, his voice sounding slightly more annoyed than he intended it to.