We turned onto our street. The porch light was on, a small yellow glow waiting for us. I thought about Daniel, not with the old crushing guilt, but with something softer. Gratitude, maybe. He had been the one who told me I was brave, long before I believed it. He had been the one who cheered the loudest. He had been the one who loved me before I knew how to love myself.
And now Sarah was here, holding my hand, asking me to teach her how to breathe.
I hadn’t lost him. I hadn’t lost myself. I had just taken a long, winding road to get back to both of them.
We climbed the porch steps. Sarah opened the door and stepped inside.
I paused on the threshold and looked back at the dark street. Somewhere out there, the world was still turning. People were still fighting, still losing, still getting back up. And I was still here. Still strong. Still myself.
I closed the door and went inside.
Disclaimer: This story is entirely fictional and created for entertainment purposes only. It does not represent any organization or individual, nor does it encourage inappropriate behavior. The content was generated with AI assistance.
