"The Bench by the Lake" Every Sunday, Evelyn sat on the old wooden bench by the lake, a worn book in her hands and a thermos of tea by her side. The bench had seen better days, but to her, it was sacred—etched with laughter, promises, and silent moments shared. Years ago, it was where she met Thomas. He was sketching the water, frowning at the light. She offered him a cup of tea, and he offered her a smile. That small exchange became a ritual. Sunday after Sunday, their conversations deepened, laughter came easier, and so did the silence between them. One day, he simply said, “Let’s not spend Sundays apart anymore,” and she said yes with a nod, heart full. Decades passed, and Thomas grew slower, gentler, but never stopped sketching her by the lake. When he was gone, Evelyn returned to the bench, their bench, every Sunday. She didn’t read much anymore. Just watched the water, feeling the warmth of memories wrapped around her like sunlight. Love, she knew, doesn’t vanish. It lingers—in the worn bench, in the wind off the lake, and in the quiet spaces where hearts once met. #knowledge #stella