The sun was just beginning to rise on a clear summer morning as Amelia made her way to the park for her daily run. She loved the feeling of the fresh air in her lungs and the way her muscles burned with exertion. As she rounded a bend in the path, she saw a man sitting on a bench, staring off into the distance. Amelia felt a sudden sense of unease, but she pushed it aside and continued on her way. She had been running in this park for years and had never had any trouble before. As she passed the man, he looked up at her and gave her a small smile. Amelia tried to return the gesture, but it felt forced. A few minutes later, Amelia was lost in her thoughts when she heard someone running up behind her. She turned to see the man from the bench closing in on her. Her heart began to race as she tried to pick up her pace, but he was gaining on her quickly. Amelia felt a hand on her shoulder and she spun around, ready to defend herself. But the man just smiled at her again and said, "Hey, sorry to scare you. I just wanted to tell you that you have a really beautiful stride." Amelia was taken aback by the compliment and couldn't help but smile. The man introduced himself as David and they began to chat as they continued their run together. Over the next few weeks, Amelia and David became running partners and good friends. They would meet up at the park every morning and push each other to be better runners. As they got to know each other better, Amelia realized that David was a truly kind and genuine person. They talked about their families, their jobs, and their dreams for the future. One morning, as they were cooling down after their run, David turned to Amelia and said, "You know, I've been thinking about something for a while now. I know we're just friends, but I can't help feeling like there's something more between us." Amelia was surprised by the confession, but also felt a flutter of excitement in her chest. She had always been attracted to David, but had never thought of him in a romantic way. They talked for a long time that morning, both of them unsure of what the future held for them. Over the next few weeks, Amelia couldn't help but think about David and the possibility of a relationship with him. But she was scared to take the plunge and risk losing their friendship. She tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on her work and her other friends, but it was no use. She knew that her feelings for David were growing stronger every day. One day, as she was sitting at her desk at work, she received an unexpected phone call. It was David, his voice tense and shaky. He told her that he had just received a job offer in another state and would be leaving in two weeks. Amelia was stunned, the news hitting her like a ton of bricks. She tried to stay strong for David, congratulating him on the opportunity and promising to stay in touch. But as soon as she hung up the phone, she burst into tears. She realized that she had been in love with David all along and now it was too late. Over the next two weeks, Amelia tried to make the most of her time with David. They went on long runs together, shared meals, and talked about their hopes and fears for the future. But all the while, Amelia felt a growing sense of sadness and regret. On David's last day in town, Amelia met him at the park for one final run. As they jogged along the path, they were both lost in their thoughts. Finally, as they neared the end of