In the weeks following the discovery of the photos, Dalton did everything he could to push it out of his mind. The images replayed in his thoughts, sometimes in the quiet moments when he was alone, creeping in when he least expected it. At first, he couldn't help but overthink it—wondering why those photos were there, what they really meant. But as the days turned into weeks, he began to bury those doubts deep inside.
He had to.
Dalton knew the trust between him and Vanessa had been damaged, but he couldn't bring himself to let her go. He loved her too much. Every time they were together, she made him feel like the world wasn't as dark as it seemed. The warmth she brought into his life outweighed the doubts gnawing at the back of his mind. And so, he swept it under the rug.
Life kept moving, and so did Dalton.
Soon after the incident with the photos, Dalton's living situation changed again. The family friend who had taken him in was expecting their daughter to come home, and there simply wasn't enough space for Dalton to stay. He had known it was temporary, but the looming change still unsettled him. He didn't have many options left.
After talking to his dad, they made a plan. Dalton would move into the fifth-wheel trailer.
The trailer was small, cramped even, but it was something. Dalton didn't complain—he had lived in worse conditions before, and at least here, he had some degree of privacy. It wasn't much, just enough space for a bed, a small kitchenette, and a cramped bathroom, but it would do for now.
His dad respected Dalton's space. When Vanessa came over, his dad would slip out, giving them the time they needed to be together without the awkward tension of a parental figure looming over them. The fifth-wheel trailer became their little hideaway, a place where they could escape the rest of the world, even if just for a few hours.
Dalton and Vanessa's relationship grew stronger and stronger.
Despite the trust that had been fractured, they continued to spend as much time together as possible. Each visit, each laugh, each shared moment helped them rebuild what had been shaken. Dalton found himself opening up to her in ways he hadn't before, sharing more of his thoughts, his fears, and the struggles that weighed on him.
One night, as they sat in the trailer eating takeout, Vanessa asked Dalton about the move.
"How's it been?" she asked, her voice soft. "Being here with your dad?"
Dalton shrugged, picking at his food. "It's not so bad, I guess. At least it's quiet... when he's not around."
Vanessa nodded, her eyes searching his face. "I know it's not easy, Dalton. But... I'm proud of you."
Dalton glanced at her, feeling a warmth in his chest at her words. It wasn't something he heard often—someone being proud of him. He managed a small smile, nodding. "Thanks. I'm just... trying to make it through, you know?"
Vanessa reached over and took his hand, her fingers squeezing his gently. "You're doing more than that. You're doing great."
In moments like these, Dalton knew why he had chosen to stay with her. Despite the doubts that occasionally surfaced, Vanessa grounded him. She was the one thing in his life that made everything else seem bearable. And as the months passed, their bond only grew stronger.
Christmas started approaching, and with it came a sense of anticipation.
It hadn't been an easy year. Financially, Dalton and Vanessa had both been struggling. Dalton was still adjusting to life in the trailer, scraping by with whatever he could, and Vanessa had been saving up any spare money she could find. Neither of them had much, but that didn't stop them from planning something special for each other.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Vanessa had been quietly gathering what little she had, determined to get Dalton a gift that meant something. Dalton knew how hard she was working—he knew how much effort it took for her to save every penny, and that alone made whatever she had planned even more meaningful.
When Christmas finally came, it was simple but special.
They sat together in the small trailer, wrapped up in blankets with the soft glow of Christmas lights they had strung up themselves. The air outside was cold, but inside, everything felt warm and intimate.
Vanessa handed Dalton a small box, wrapped with care, her hands slightly trembling as she passed it to him. Dalton smiled, taking the box and carefully unwrapping it. Inside was a figure—a detailed model of his favorite monster from the game they had played together so many times. The craftsmanship was perfect, every detail lovingly recreated.
"I know it's not much.." Vanessa said quietly, her eyes watching him closely. "But I wanted to get you something meaningful."
Dalton stared at the figure, his heart swelling with emotion. Knowing how hard Vanessa had worked to save for this gift, the meaning behind it was unfathomable. He could barely find the words to express how much it meant to him. The fact that she had spent all she had just to make him happy—it was more than he ever expected, and the emotion it stirred in him was overwhelming.
"It's perfect!" Dalton whispered, his voice thick with gratitude. "Thank you."
But that wasn't all. Dalton had a gift for her, too. He reached into his bag, pulling out a small box of his own. Vanessa's eyes lit up as she took it, her fingers carefully unwrapping the gift.
Inside was a figure of her favorite monster from the same game—a character she had fallen in love with during one of their many late-night gaming sessions. The smile that spread across her face when she saw it was enough to warm Dalton's heart.
"You remembered.." Vanessa said, her voice soft with disbelief.
"Of course I did!" Dalton replied with a grin. "You never shut up about that thing."
They both laughed, and for a moment, it felt like all the struggles, all the hardships, had melted away. They had spent everything they had on each other, but the gifts they gave weren't just about money. They were about understanding each other, about the connection they had built.
The months passed, and Dalton and Vanessa grew closer than ever.
They continued to navigate the challenges of life—school, family, money—but they did it together. Dalton had begun to trust her again, slowly rebuilding the foundation they had once had. The memory of the photos still lingered in the back of his mind, but he had learned to live with it. He loved her too much to let that break them.
But just when it seemed like things were finally stabilizing, life threw another curveball.
Dalton's dad was arrested again.