"How did you discover this place? It's completely..." Anastasia trailed off, her voice swallowed by the gentle roar of the cascading water.
"I know," Dylan nodded, a small, proud smile tugging at his lips.
"An old friend put me on,"
They were sat on a wide, sun-warmed rock overlooking a hidden waterfall lake.
Droplets of water still clung to their skin, glistening like diamonds in the harsh Arizona light.
After a long swim in the cool, clear basin, they were drying off in just their underwear, letting the heat soak into their bones.
Anastasia leaned back on her elbows, closing her eyes. For the first time in years, the constant buzz of anxiety in the back of her mind had gone quiet.
The air smelled of wet stone and wild sage. It felt mundane, simple, and utterly perfect.
She had almost completely forgotten that the world could be this beautiful... that life wasn't just a series of dire situations, dark rooms, and whispered threats.
