Ren arrives in Kołobrzeg hoping to uncover the story behind the photo—a boy standing alone by the lighthouse. He meets Aleksy, who looks eerily similar to the boy in the image. Their first encounter is tense, but fate keeps pulling them together.
As Ren explores the town through his lens, Aleksy becomes his reluctant guide. Slowly, they unravel the mystery of the photo, which ties into a decades-old love story between Ren’s grandfather and a Polish boy during WWII.
Their bond deepens as they retrace the past, and Ren begins to see Aleksy not just as a connection to history, but as someone who makes him feel truly seen. But Aleksy struggles with his own fears—of being vulnerable, of losing someone again, of stepping into a love that feels too big to hold.

🌊 Salt in the Wind Episode 19: The Letter That Crossed the Sea


The gallery had quieted since the exhibition, but the story hadn't. Ren sat at the desk in the back room, sorting through emails. One subject line caught his eye: From Tokyo – Regarding Masaru Takahashi.


I am Masaru's niece. My uncle passed away in 2001, but he spoke often of Kołobrzeg. He left behind a box of letters, photographs, and one final note. I believe it was meant for someone there. Would you accept it?


Ren's hands trembled. He called Aleksy immediately.


"He left something," Ren said. "For us."


A week later, the package arrived. Wrapped in linen, tied with twine. Inside was a stack of letters, written in Japanese and Polish. Ren translated slowly, carefully.


"I walked the streets we once knew. I touched the tree. I sat at the dock. I whispered your name into the wind. I do not know if you are alive. But I know you were real. And that is enough."


Aleksy read it twice. "He never stopped believing."


Ren nodded. "And now his family knows the truth."


They added the letter to the gallery, placing it beside the cassette and the final photo. A new placard read: Masaru Takahashi – A Love That Waited.


The next day, a journalist from Warsaw arrived. She had seen the exhibition online.


"This story matters," she said. "It's not just about two boys. It's about silence. About memory. About what we choose to remember."


Aleksy led her through the gallery. Ren watched from the back, heart full.


Later, they walked to the lighthouse. The keeper met them at the top, holding a small envelope.


"This was tucked behind the wall," she said. "I think it's the last piece."


Inside was a photograph—Aleksander, standing alone, wind in his hair, eyes full of storm. On the back, one line:


"I was here. I loved. I was not afraid."


Aleksy whispered, "He left this for someone to find."


They added the photo to the gallery, the final piece in the collage. The story was complete—but not finished.


That night, Ren and Aleksy sat on the dock, legs dangling over the water.


Aleksy looked at him. "Do you think they'd be proud?"


Ren didn't hesitate. "I think they'd feel seen."


The wind carried the scent of salt and memory.


Chapter 19 - Episode 19: The Letter That Crossed the Sea