I stood rooted to the spot, my gaze lifting to meet his in a silent, stubborn challenge.
His outstretched hand remained suspended in the air between us, a fragile offer that seemed to hang there for an eternity.
A cold night wind howled through the alley, whipping strands of hair across my face.
Something gritty—dust, maybe—stung my eyes, blurring my vision.
Miranda, sensing the thick tension, rushed forward with protective urgency, positioning herself between Evander and me.
Evander began, his voice strained. "Sylvia, I've spent years searching for you. I never gave up. I just found out you've been in the same city all this time. W-Why wouldn't you see me? Are you still blaming me?"
The fear and uncertainty in his tone were unmistakable.
The Evander I remembered always moved throug
