James and Ellie have been friends for a year now. They met through their university friends, and ever since then, they have immediately clicked and become close friends. However, James senses something more than that. He’s been fighting it for months, but he finally gives in. One summer, James, Ellie, and five of their university friends went on a trip to Newfoundland. They rented out a cottage that has a beautiful view of the beach next to the Atlantic Ocean. 

James set up the campfire, and Ellie set up the chairs around it. The other people brought food, drinks, and even a guitar. Everyone gathered and sat around the campfire, singing, drinking, and having a good time. Thirty minutes later, Ellie left the campfire to wander around the beach late at night. James went with her. 

They walked along the side of the beach. It was a bit chilly, the tides are a bit rough, but the moon and stars shine so bright that they light up the night sky. They both stopped to admire the scenery. “Some view,” said Ellie. “It’s beautiful,” James replied. There was a long pause. Suddenly, Ellie breaks the silence. “Thanks for driving us all the way from the airport. It’s a two-hour drive, and I’m sure you’re super tired.” James shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. Thanks for being the DJ for the trip. You got an… interesting taste in music. Ellie giggled. “You’re not a big fan of K-pop?” she asked. He shook his head. “No, no. It has just grown on me for the past two hours. I never heard that much Blackpink and Fifthteen in my life.” Ellie looked at James with a straight face. “Idiot. It’s Seventeen, not Fifteen.” James laughed. “It’s a boy band with a number. Close enough.” They both looked up at the night sky. It’s starting to get really cold. Ellie began to shiver because she only wore a t-shirt and shorts, while James wore jeans and a sweater with a plaid shirt underneath. James took off his sweater and gave it to Ellie. “Here. Take this,” he said as he wrapped his big sweater around Ellie. “Or else you’ll get a cold.” “Thanks,” she said. James can’t hold it anymore, he starts to confess. “Listen, I just want to say thank you.” She laughed. “For what? For introducing you to K-pop?” “No. I really mean it. The last couple of months have been really rough for me. Exams, work, family. But somehow you always manage to help me find peace and something worth living for.” Ellie put her head on his shoulder. “I mean, we all have to go through this. It’s all about spending time with the ones you love and doing things you miss doing.” James looks at the ocean. The tides are getting bigger. He closes his eyes. “Have you ever had that feeling where you can stay in just one moment?” “Like this? All the time,” she replied. James turned to Ellie, opened his eyes, and looked at her. “Ellie. There’s something I need to say. I-” he looked back at the ocean. There’s a giant wave coming after them. Right when the wave hits him, he wakes up.

He immediately got up. He’s on his bunk bed with 3 of his friends in the cottage. He lies back down. “Damn it. It was just a dream,” he thought. He got up from his bed and walked down the hallway to the bathroom. He peeked into the other bedroom. Ellie and her friend are still asleep in their king-size bed. He went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, and got changed. He went to the kitchen downstairs and made some toast with some coffee. While the bread is in the toaster oven and the water in the kettle is heating up, he looks outside. It’s still pretty dark. There’s a small table with chairs outside the house. It has a beautiful birds-eye view of the ocean and beach. He’s starting to re-live that dream he had last night, but can’t seem to paint a clear vision of it. Suddenly, there was a loud ding and whistle. It was the toaster oven and kettle. It made a loud noise that echoed in the cottage. James immediately unplugged the toaster oven and kettle to stop the noise. He quickly made his coffee and took his drink and toast outside. “Hopefully, no one heard that,” he thought to himself.

James grabbed his sweater and shoes because it was still cold outside. He sat on the porch and began having his breakfast. He slowly indulged the coffee while devouring his toast. He looked from the porch and saw the beach with the same campfire that they had last night. It’s starting to get windy, and James is very paranoid that the chairs might get blown away. He grabbed his coffee and went down to the beach, and started to take the chairs and put them back into his car. There was an old log beside the remains of the campfire that acted like a bench. When all the chairs were put back, he sat on the log and looked over the ocean, admiring the sunrise. He closed his eyes and tried to relive his dream from last night. No luck. He sighs in disappointment. He looked up into the sky. “Why do I feel stuck?” he asked himself. Then, he looked to his side. There was the guitar that he forgot to put away. He picked up the guitar and saw if it was in tune. “It’s tuned enough,” he thought. He closed his eyes and started to hum the lyrics because he was scared someone might hear him.

“I knew I loved you then

But you never know

‘Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go

I know I needed you

But I never showed

But I wanna stay with you until we’re grey and old”

“That sounded beautiful,” someone said. James looked behind him. It was Ellie. “Oh. Uh. Morning.” Ellie giggled. She walked to James and sat down next to him. She yawned. “You’re up really early,” James said. Ellie nodded. “You made quite a scene this morning,” she laughed. James felt embarrassed. “Oops. Sorry”. “It’s all good. I’m a light sleeper. Other people are still asleep, though.” James picked up his coffee and handed it to Ellie. “Here. Have this,” he said. “It’s a little cold, though.” She took James’s coffee and started to sip. “It’s not bad. Thanks.” They both stared at the ocean, admiring the sunrise. “Some view,” said Ellie. “It’s beautiful,” James replied. There was a long silence. “Forgot to say, nice song,” Ellie said to James. He chuckled. “Thanks, but that’s all we’re going to get from me.” “You’re trying to learn how to play guitar?” she asked. James nodded. “Well, I’m sure one day, you’ll be amazing at the guitar,” “Thanks,” he said. There’s another long silence between the two. Ellie turned to James and looked at him. “Ever had that feeling when you just feel stuck? But you don’t know how to get out or make sense of it all?” she asked. James looked at her. “Yeah,” he replied. “In the matter of fact, I’m having that right now.” She seems surprised. “Really? About what?” James chose his words carefully because he didn’t want to reveal too much about his love for Ellie. “Dreams. Yes. Dreams. Stuck somewhere between dreams and reality.” Ellie is intrigued. “ Hmm. What kind of dreams are you talking about?” “You’ll see. And you won’t miss it.” She laughed and lightly punched him. “Alright mysteryio.” “What about you?” James asked. Ellie replied. “The exact same thing.” “And I’m guessing you’re not going to tell me?” She nodded. 

The sun has risen, and the ocean breeze is very refreshing. The birds are chirping, and the sun shines over the cottage. “Well, all this chatting about our imagination is making me hungry,” Ellie said. “You haven’t had breakfast yet?” James asked. She shook her head. “Well, let’s go back inside and make some food. Other people will be awake, so let’s make breakfast for them too.” Ellie nodded. She got up and immediately felt cold from the ocean breeze she had taken in for the past hour. James gave her his jacket and wrapped it around her. “Thanks,” she said. “No problem. It’s a bit windy going up, so be careful.” Ellie grabbed James by the arm, and they slowly worked their way back to the cottage