Alina’s POV
Leo ran ahead, chasing the tide, laughing as he went. Sebastian and I followed in silence, letting the stillness settle naturally. He did not reach for my hand, nor did I offer it. We simply existed side by side, patient, present, and steady.
“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 precious every moment is. How vital it is to choose carefully.”
I acknowledged the truth in his words. Healing was not achieved through grand gestures or declarations. It arrived in the patient accumulation of ordinary moments, repeated acts of care, and subtle, deliberate vulnerability. I could see it in him now, the slow shaping of a m
