On the first morning of their week off, Eriko curled up in the armchair by the window, a thick book resting on her lap and her glasses perched at the end of her nose. She had barely moved from that spot since dawn, drawn into one of her characteristic intellectual journeys—a deep dive into ancient philosophy and political theory. Sammi, amused but unbothered, watched from the kitchen, brewing her third cup of coffee as she considered what spontaneous adventure they might try this week.
By the afternoon, Sammi noticed Eriko’s excited murmurs as she traced connections between different passages, scribbling notes furiously. When Sammi finally came over, her curiosity getting the better of her, Eriko looked up with an intensity in her eyes Sammi had only ever seen when she was completely absorbed in one of her literary quests.
"Sammi," she said, holding up her notes as though she’d cracked the code of the universe, "I think I’ve figured out history."
Sammi laughed softly, running her fingers through Eriko’s hair as she leaned in. "Oh, really? Well, lay it on me, Ms. Baudelaire."
Eriko took a deep breath, arranging her thoughts. "Okay, so… modern China," she said, eyes lighting up, "isn’t simply a nation-state. It’s like the resurrected vision of Huinanzi and Chu Hsi’s thearch—a ruler who embodies harmony and moral guidance, the leader of a world in order." She flipped a page, almost feverish. "And Islam—it’s more than a religion. It’s a kind of Sumerian temple-state molded by the ideals of Plato! A whole civilization shaped to mirror the ancient past!"
Sammi’s eyebrows raised, though she kept a calm smile. "And Russia?"
Eriko leaned back, triumphant. "A reverse Mongol Empire. A place where the conquered rose to adopt and even reverse the methods of their conquerors. The more I read, the clearer it all becomes! I think… I think I’ve cracked history’s design!"
Sammi took in the proud gleam in Eriko’s eyes, smiling with admiration and a hint of amusement. Her fingers traced soft circles on Eriko’s shoulder, and she leaned in, her voice gentle.
"That’s incredible, Eriko. I love how you see these patterns that no one else would think to find." She paused, resting her hand over Eriko’s. "But, you know… even history’s big ideas can wait. Right now, this week, we’re on our own little vacation. Maybe we can find some peace in the garden? I thought we could just… be, together."
Eriko’s gaze softened, her intensity waning under Sammi’s touch. She let her hand fall to her lap, the book forgotten for the moment, and looked up into Sammi’s bright, loving eyes. Sammi, who had always seemed so simple on the surface, understood the things Eriko couldn’t find in her books—how it felt to be needed, to be loved, to be part of something without needing to analyze it.
Without another word, Sammi took her hand and led her outside to the garden they’d cultivated together. Sunlight streamed through the branches of the old oak tree, casting warm dappled shadows over the stone path lined with their favorite herbs and flowers. Sammi found a soft patch of grass and sat down, patting the space beside her. Eriko, caught between her mind’s lingering excitement and the warmth radiating from Sammi’s simple presence, finally surrendered and sat.
For a moment, they simply sat there, absorbing the soft, earthy scents of the garden and the sounds of the gentle breeze weaving through the trees. Sammi reached for Eriko’s hand, lacing their fingers together.
"See," Sammi murmured, "this is all we need right now. You, me, the quiet of this garden, and a little sun."
Eriko leaned her head on Sammi’s shoulder, letting her mind rest from its ceaseless pursuit of grand answers. Here, the world didn’t need solving. There were no rulers or empires or philosophical constructs, just the two of them, grounded and held by something real and tender.
"Sometimes, you’re the only thing that makes sense," Eriko whispered, almost to herself. "I spend so much time trying to piece everything together… but here with you, none of that matters."
Sammi smiled, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Eriko’s head. "Then let it go, love. Just for now. Let’s be in the world we’ve made here, in this moment."
They stayed there, entwined in each other’s presence, under the open sky and the wild embrace of the garden they’d grown together. For the first time in days, Eriko closed her eyes and let herself sink into the peace of the present moment, feeling her partner’s warmth and the assurance that, together, they had all the meaning she could ever need.
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