The phrase (Walking to You) is the title of a beloved song by the Latvian synth-pop group Tranzīts . It’s an anthem of longing, the rhythm of footsteps on a long road, and the unwavering pull of someone waiting at the end of it.

The neon sign of the roadside café flickered, casting a rhythmic blue glow over Ralfs’ boots. He didn’t stop. He couldn’t. The bassline of an old cassette tape seemed to pulse in his very marrow, timing his stride to a beat that had been driving him forward since sunset. He was "walking to her"—just like the song said.

He reached the garden gate. The wood was slightly more weathered, the latch a bit rustier. He stood there for a moment, listening to the morning birds wake up. Then, the front door creaked open.

She looked at the long, empty road behind him and then back into his eyes. A small, knowing smile broke across her face—the kind of smile that meant the music hadn't stopped after all.

Elīna stepped onto the porch, clutching a shawl against the morning chill. She didn't scream or run. She simply watched him, her eyes tracing the dust on his jacket and the exhaustion in his smile. Ralfs stopped a few feet away, the long walk finally over.

As dawn began to bleed grey and violet over the horizon, the familiar jagged skyline of their village appeared. His legs ached with a dull, heavy heat, but his pace quickened. He turned off the main road onto the dirt path where the scent of jasmine and woodsmoke hung in the air.