Emily, balancing gallery prep and daily visits, found herself drawn to Ethan’s quiet strength and dry humor. Weeks later, Grace was ready. They released her at the lake where it all began, watching as she glided back to the wild. Holding hands, Emily and Ethan realized something else had taken flight—something between them.

Their bond deepened into late-summer hikes, porch talks, and a first kiss by the French Broad River. Emily began planning a photo series about Grace’s journey and, perhaps unknowingly, her own. As fall approached, Ethan invited her back to Lake Junaluska for “a sunset.” Emily, camera in hand and heart full, had a feeling it would be a day to remember.