Two Hearts, One Sunset: J's Quest for True Romance with Mr. X

A sunset, tears on her cheeks, and a gentle tap on her back is what we last heard of J at the dam. Who was this person behind her? Frightened, a little bit hopeful, she turned around to lay a gaze on the face of this stranger.

The look on this familiar person made her heart leap. "It's you," she softly whispered, quickly looking away to shield her tear-stained face. She dreaded the thought of him realizing the depth of the emotional wound his words had inflicted on her existence.

"It's fine. I can go if..." he said, turning around to point in the direction he had come from.

"No," J quickly replied, secretly wondering why he was in front of her. With each stolen glance she took, she couldn't help but question what it was about this man that truly touched her heart. Was it his eyes, occasionally revealing his deep care for her? Was it the way his beard framed his lower face? These thoughts left her uncertain, reigniting feelings of despair.

"It's all yours," she said. "Goodbye, X," she added as they exchanged an awkward fist bump before she walked past him.

In that moment, the dam stood still, with nothing on the horizon. The wind grew crisp and empty, while the long grass reeds silently swayed with the breeze. It felt as though the universe had set the stage for an ending that both J and Mr. X had never expected.

It wasn't merely the end of a day; it marked the conclusion of a love story destined to be handed down through generations. A humble tale that had its origins on a dusty staircase and found its ultimate ending at the dam.

"J," Mr. X called out. "You don't have to go."

For a moment, J was unsure how to react. She froze.

"I mean, we can both sit and enjoy one last sunset," he quickly added, noticing the blank expression on J's face.

"Sure," J whispered as she turned around.

They both sat at the edge of the rock, gazing into the unknown.

With every passing second spent beside him, clarity emerged. She became certain about their significance to each other. She gained clarity about the type of man she desired. She knew she had to bid farewell to the version of herself that had held Mr. X in her heart.

"Look, they're heading home," he said, pointing at a pair of ducks waddling their way into the horizon. Mr. X hoped to mend their relationship. Perhaps they could become better friends.

"You seem cold. How about we get some tea after this?" he suggested, hoping to bury the events of the previous night.

Two hearts, one sunset, at last.