One evening, Julian sat across from her holding a small ring in his trembling hand.
“I am not asking you to forget anything,” he said quietly. “I just want the chance to keep showing up.”
Abigail looked at him for a long moment before responding.
“I did not forgive you all at once,” she said honestly.
“I know,” he replied softly.
“I forgave you little by little, and some days I am still working on it,” she continued.
He nodded, understanding more than he had before. Abigail closed the ring box gently and looked at him with steady eyes.
“Just stay,” she said. “That matters more than anything else.”
Julian smiled through tears.
“I am staying,” he promised.
In the living room, Dr. Pierce rested quietly while Mason let out a soft laugh in his sleep, as if he could feel that something in their world had finally settled.
Abigail never needed someone to rescue her, because she had already saved herself. She only left the door open just enough for someone brave enough to return and finally learn how to stay.
