Chapter 16
Weeks turned into months, and slowly but surely, my world began to feel like my own again. The weight of the past was lifting, replaced by a quiet confidence I hadn’t known I could have.
Daniel and I became closer — not in a rushed, desperate way, but gently, like two people discovering each other without fear. He wasn’t just a comfort; he was becoming someone I could imagine a future with.
One rainy afternoon, as we sat in a café watching droplets race down the windows, he reached across the table and took my hand.
“Aurora, I don’t want to be just someone who’s there for you now and then. I want to be part of your life, always. If you’ll have me.”
My heart fluttered, but I kept my voice steady.
“I want that too. But I’m not rushing into anything. I’ve learned to protect my heart.”
He smiled, squeezing my hand. “We’ll take it one day at a time.”
The rain outside softened, and I realized that, just like the weather, my heart was ready to heal — slowly but surely.