The next morning, sunlight spilled gently through the lace curtains in Julie's room. She sat up slowly, stretching, her eyes landing on the photograph she had placed on the bedside table the night before. The man's face still intrigued her—handsome, mysterious, and somehow familiar even though she had never seen him before. She smiled to herself. Gabriel, she thought. I'm going to return this to you today.
After breakfast, her grandmother reminded her, "You still have the photo, right? Gabriel will be happy to see it again. He lives just twenty-five steps from here, remember?"
Julie nodded. "Yes. I want to return it to him myself."
"Of course, dear," her grandmother said with a warm smile, handing her a small bundle of cookies. "Bring these too. He always appreciates a sweet surprise."
Julie stepped out into the morning light and followed the winding path past the garden gate. As she neared Gabriel's home, she noticed how beautiful and carefully tended the front yard was. Flowers of every color lined the small stone path leading to the porch—roses, daisies, marigolds, and delicate vines spilling over wooden trellises. The scent of lavender and honeysuckle floated through the air. It felt like stepping into a secret garden.
Julie reached the front door of the quaint little house. To her surprise, it was slightly ajar.
She peeked her head in and called, "Hello? Hello? Anyone here?"
There was no answer.
"That's odd," she murmured. "Why is the door open? There's no one inside..."
Stepping in cautiously, she glanced around the quiet home. It smelled faintly of lavender and old wood, peaceful and still. Then, through the window, she noticed movement outside — someone in the backyard.
Julie stepped back out and walked around, her curiosity rising. There, tending to a cluster of blooming flowers, stood a man — or rather, a vision of gentle elegance.
He had soft, shoulder-length white hair that flowed gently around his face, giving him a timeless, graceful aura. His skin was a warm tan, smooth but lined with age in the most graceful way. He wore a crisp white blouse — simple yet refined — that suited his slender frame. His deep brown eyes sparkled with kindness and a hint of mischief, framed by delicate wrinkles that added to his charm. His presence radiated softness and quiet strength, like someone who had lived through much but still held peace in his heart.
Hearing footsteps, he turned toward her. "Who's there?" he asked gently.
Julie stopped a few steps away, slightly flustered. "Oh! Sorry — I'm looking for someone named Gabriel. Are you... Gabriel?"
He nodded. "Yes, I am."
Julie smiled with a touch of relief. "I'm Julie — I found this yesterday, near the big tree in my grandparents' garden. My grandmother said you might have lost it."
At the mention of her grandmother, he chuckled softly. "Ah, Julie... You must be Laila's granddaughter."
Julie nodded and held out the photograph.
Gabriel's eyes widened slightly as he took it from her hands. A soft smile spread across his face — not sad, just quietly relieved.
"I thought this was gone for good," he said. "Thank you. Truly."
As Gabriel took the photograph, Julie studied him for a moment.
Her thoughts flickered.Oh… he's— she?
But almost instantly, she understood. He was a man — elegant, graceful, and proud. Julie didn't question it further. Somehow, it just made sense.
Snapping back into the moment, she added, "Ah! I almost forgot — Grandma sent these for you." She held out a small paper bag filled with cookies.
Gabriel smiled warmly, accepting the gift with a light chuckle. "Oh dear, I should be the one thanking you. Then I shall receive these — with appreciation."
He glanced toward his small garden table. "I have some fruit here… or perhaps tea? Would you like some?"
Julie shook her head politely. "No, it's okay — but thank you."
Still, Gabriel insisted kindly. "At least sit for a while. Rest your feet. It's a lovely morning."
Julie gave in with a smile and sat at the front of his house. The garden around her bloomed with vibrant flowers of every color, their scent carried gently by the fresh morning breeze.
"I'll be back in just a minute," Gabriel said, stepping inside the house.
Left alone, Julie took in the quiet peace of the place. She tilted her head back slightly, letting the crisp morning air brush her cheeks. It was calm here — the kind of calm she rarely felt. The flowers swayed gently in the breeze, and for a moment, she simply sat and breathed, appreciating the soft beauty around her.
Gabriel returned from the house holding something in his hands.
"Here," he said gently, offering Julie a small pack of oranges. "For you."
Julie tried to refuse. "Oh, I couldn't—"
But Gabriel gave her a look that made it clear she had no choice. She smiled and accepted it with a quiet "Thank you."
There was a moment of silence between them — comfortable, warm. Then, without really thinking, Julie blurted out, "You must've been really handsome when you were younger."
Gabriel chuckled softly, the corners of his mouth lifting in amusement. "Oh, no… that's not me."
Julie blinked. "Huh? Then is it your brother?" She laughed awkwardly. "I'm just guessing randomly."
Gabriel's smile softened, a distant light in his eyes. "No. He was... someone very important to me. From the past."
Julie's lips parted slightly, then, in a flash of realization, she said, "Oh—then he was your—your something lov..?"
She immediately cringed. "Oh, shoot me," she muttered under her breath, embarrassed by her own bluntness.
But Gabriel just laughed — a warm, understanding laugh. There was no tension, no discomfort, only a quiet acceptance hanging gently in the morning air.
Julie quickly changed the subject, trying to ease her embarrassment.
"You have a fine collection over there," she said, nodding toward the shelves just inside the open door. "It looks... old. In a good way."
Gabriel smiled warmly. "Would you like to see it?"
He stood up slowly and motioned with a playful chuckle. "Come on, I've got all sorts of things — books, trinkets, little pieces from here and there."
Julie's eyes widened slightly. "Ah, really? Can I?"
"Of course," Gabriel said, already turning toward the house.
Julie followed him slowly, her curiosity growing with each step.
Julie stepped inside and gasped softly. "Oh wow," she murmured, clearly amused and amazed by what she saw. Her fingers hovered gently over a shelf as she carefully touched a few items, admiring their age and uniqueness.
Everything felt like stepping into a museum of memories — preserved and cherished.
After a few minutes of exploring the room, her eyes landed on a large portrait hanging on the wall. It showed a young man — graceful, striking, and familiar. Julie tilted her head, as if her brain was slowly piecing it together.
"Wait…" she whispered to herself. "Is this…?"
Gabriel's voice came playfully from behind her. "Hahaha, that's me."
Julie turned to him, eyes wide. "Wha—wow! That's… that's like a piece of art. So graceful."
Gabriel laughed softly, placing a hand over his chest. "You flatter me."
As her eyes wandered to another picture placed neatly on a side table — the same photo she had found buried in the garden — she pointed and asked, "Oh, this is the one I found?"
Gabriel nodded. "Yes, I put it back in its original spot. I lost it about a month ago — must've slipped from my pocket while I was outside getting fresh air or tending to the garden."
Julie smiled. There was something calming about the space, and something even more fascinating about the man who kept it.
Julie hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Is it alright if I ask about that man in the photo?"
Gabriel gave her a gentle smile. "That's fine by me. Ah—right, I didn't answer that earlier, did I? Hahaha."
Julie chuckled nervously. "It's okay."
Gabriel looked away for a second, as if searching for the right words. "He was just someone…" he said quietly.
A distant look passed over his face, like his whole world flickered in his eyes—something too deep to explain, too tender to name.
Julie leaned forward, curiosity slipping through her words before she could stop herself. "Can I know the story?"
Then quickly, she waved her hands, her cheeks flushing. "Oh—I didn't mean to pry!"
Gabriel chuckled gently, his voice calm and kind, like leaves brushing together in a soft breeze. "It's a long story… but it's fine."
Just then, a soft ringing chimed from inside the house—a gentle, old-fashioned bell that echoed faintly through the open door.
Gabriel blinked and glanced toward the sound, then rose from his chair with a small sigh. "Oh, I forgot the time," he said, brushing his hands against his sides. "I need to go now."
Julie stood too, a little flustered, brushing her skirt down and stepping aside. "Oh! Where are my manners? I didn't mean to keep you. I apologize for disturbing you…" She murmured with a sheepish grin, her gaze drifting to the flowers. "I almost got to hear the love story."
Gabriel laughed gently as he stepped toward the gate, his footsteps steady but measured. "Maybe next time, I'll tell you. Hehehe."
Julie smiled in return, watching him with soft eyes. "Okay."
But as Gabriel moved further along the path, she noticed something—his steps were slower than before, careful and deliberate, with a faint stiffness in his legs. The ease in his posture had shifted slightly.
"Um…" Julie called after him, her voice softer now, touched with concern. "Are you sure it's okay for you to go that far?"
Gabriel paused, one hand lightly gripping the gate. He looked back over his shoulder with a warm, reassuring smile.
"You seemed like walking is a bit difficult," Julie added, taking a few steps closer.
He nodded gently, eyes kind beneath the morning light. "That's very thoughtful of you. I can still manage—just a little slower than before, that's all."
Julie tilted her head, her voice full of care. "Alright. Just please be careful."
Gabriel smiled again, deeper this time, touched by her concern. "I will."
The breeze picked up as he stepped out, brushing the flowers along the path, and Julie stood for a moment, watching him disappear into the light. There was something unspoken in the way he walked—a quiet dignity, and a loneliness she hadn't noticed
Gabriel stepped away from the porch, his hand lightly brushing against the gate as he opened it. His steps were slow but steady, the morning sun casting soft shadows behind him as he made his way down the flower-lined path. Julie stood for a moment, watching him go, the white of his blouse catching the light as he disappeared around the corner.
She turned back toward the road, walking slowly, her thoughts quietly stirring. The breeze whispered through the trees, and the flowers swayed gently, but something tugged at her mind.
Does he have someone to help him? she wondered.
Gabriel had spoken so kindly, with grace and calm, but behind that smile and peaceful home… he seemed so alone. There were no signs of family, no chatter from inside the house, no trace of visitors or voices—only Gabriel, his quiet strength, and the soft air of solitude.
Julie glanced back once more, just before reaching the end of the road. His home stood still behind her, embraced by flowers but holding a quiet stillness that made her chest feel heavy.
He lives alone? she thought, feeling an ache she couldn't quite explain. Is he really just… by himself?
The thought lingered with her as she made her way down the hill, back toward her grandparents' house. The warm sun touched her shoulders, but her heart felt cooler, weighed by the silence Gabriel had left behind.