Alina’s POV
As the sun lowered toward the horizon, painting the sky in pinks and purples, we prepared dinner together. Leo hummed, Sebastian offered quiet observations, and I felt a sense of contentment that had long eluded me. Life was imperfect, but it was ours. That was enough.
After dinner, we walked along the porch, letting the sound of the waves wash over us. Leo ran ahead, shouting with delight, chasing the tide.
Sebastian and I followed slowly, letting silence hold us. He did not reach for my hand, nor did I offer it. We simply existed side by side, patient and present.
“I never realized,” he said softly, breaking the quiet, “how much I took for granted. Not just you, not just Leo, but life itself.
I focused on appearances, control, and power. Now I see how fragile and precio
