Alina’s POV
We spent the morning building a fort from driftwood and shells. Leo dictated every detail, insisting on towers, secret passageways, and bridges.
After dinner, we walked along the porch, listening to the waves. Leo ran ahead, chasing the tide. Sebastian and I followed, letting silence settle between us. He did not reach for my hand, nor did I offer it. We simply existed, side by side, patient and present, letting the night envelope us.
“I never realized,” he said softly, “how much I took for granted before. Not just you, not just Leo, but life itself. I focused on appearances, control, and power. Now I see how fragile and precious every moment is. How vital it is to choose carefully.”
I acknowledged the truth in his words. Healing did not arrive in grand gestures or dramati
