The pier was bathed in the soft glow of the fading sun, the air thick with the scent of salt and the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the wooden posts. Julian stood near the edge, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket, staring out at the horizon, where the sky met the sea in a blur of orange and pink.
He had come here countless times before—usually when he needed to think, when the weight of the world felt too heavy to carry alone. But today was different. Today, the weight was unbearable.
He had made mistakes. More than he could count. Losing Emily was the one that haunted him the most, and now, standing on the pier, he realized just how close he was to losing everything that mattered.
The sound of footsteps behind him made his heart skip. He didn’t turn arou
