Some dreams are grand. They involve train journeys across continents, little cottages hidden in the countryside, or flights to places I cannot even pronounce properly.
And then there are the dreams that ask for almost nothing.
A cool evening. A comfortable pair of shoes. A person I love more than anyone else.
That is enough.
We arrive with the best intentions. We have both noticed that our clothes fit a little differently these days, and we agree that it is time to become healthier. So we set out for a long walk through a newly opened part of a park we have never explored before.
We promise each other that tonight is all about exercise.
Naturally, things do not go according to plan.
The first thing we discover is a giant maze.
It looks simple from the outside.
It is not.
We wander deeper and deeper until every path begins to look the same. We laugh at our complete lack of direction. We take wrong turns. We double back. We become absolutely convinced we know the way out, only to find ourselves exactly where we started.
Somewhere between getting lost and pretending we are not lost, we steal a few quiet moments together.
The kind that make time disappear.
Eventually we find the exit, feeling far more accomplished than two people escaping a maze probably should.
From there, we cross a bridge and continue our walk.
Hand in hand.
Talking about everything and nothing.
Old memories that still make us laugh.
People we miss.
Dreams we have not given up on yet.
The future we are still building one ordinary day at a time.
And then, of course, disaster strikes.
We discover an all day breakfast bar.
For two people committed to healthy living, this is a serious problem.
Especially because they happen to serve the fluffiest pancakes I have ever seen.
We stare at the menu.
The menu stares back.
The pancakes win.
Every single time.
So we order one plate to share, along with coffee, because sharing calories somehow feels responsible. At least that is the story we tell ourselves.
The pancakes are perfect. Light, warm, and completely worth sabotaging a fitness journey for.
Afterward, we continue walking as if nothing happened.
As if those pancakes never existed.
As if we are still extremely committed to wellness.
The path leads us toward a fountain show, where music drifts through the air and bright colors dance across the water. We stop for a while, watching the reflections shimmer and move, the lights changing with every note.
Around us, everything feels alive.
Beside me, the best company in the world.
We walk a little farther.
Maybe we stop by the grocery store before heading home.
Maybe we pick up a few things we do not really need.
Maybe we stretch the evening just a little longer because neither of us is in a hurry for it to end.
And that is when I realize that my perfect walk has never really been about the destination.
It is not about the maze.
Or the bridge.
Or the fountains.
Or even the pancakes.
It is about sharing all of those things with the right person.
A nice walk.
Delicious pancakes.
And the best company in the world.
Three simple ingredients for the perfect date night.
And one of my million dreams.
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