Summer romance

Emily is about to turn twenty, and instead of parties and noise, she chooses quiet. She escapes to her family’s old summerhouse by the lake, bringing only a suitcase and her beloved cat, Whiskers—an observant little guardian with golden eyes and a habit of curling up where secrets linger. The summerhouse smells of pinewood and memories. Long afternoons stretch into warm evenings, filled with candlelight, handwritten thoughts, and the gentle rhythm of water against the shore. As Emily reflects on who she’s been and who she’s becoming, the solitude she craves begins to soften into something unexpected. A chance encounter disrupts her peaceful retreat, stirring feelings she didn’t plan for and emotions she can’t ignore. With Whiskers always nearby, watching silently from windowsills and armchairs, Emily finds herself opening her heart—to the place, to the moment. This is a story about turning twenty, choosing stillness, and discovering that love sometimes finds you when you finally slow down enough to breathe.