The dinner was perfect—almost too perfect. The way Henry's eyes lingered on Alison, the way he held her hand, made her heart flutter. It felt like they had turned a corner, and yet Alison knew that words and gestures were only part of the journey. True reconciliation required more—trust rebuilt brick by brick, moment by moment.
---
After dinner, Henry suggested a walk. The night air was cool, and the city lights sparkled in the distance. They strolled in comfortable silence, their footsteps in sync. For the first time in a long while, Alison felt like things were heading in the right direction. She wanted to say something, but for once, words failed her.
"I've been thinking a lot lately," Henry said, breaking the quiet.
"About what?" Alison asked softly.
"About us. About how everything went down." He paused, his jaw tightening as if wrestling with his thoughts. "It wasn't easy for me to trust you again. But tonight... I realized something."
