Two weeks after their first encounter, Debbie found herself at the address Filex had given her. It was a cozy music store nestled between two old buildings, its windows filled with vintage instruments and handwritten notes advertising lessons.She hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. The warm scent of wood and the faint sound of a piano greeted her. In the back, she spotted Filex, his eyes closed as he played a hauntingly beautiful tune. He looked up as she approached, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Debbie," he said, his tone both welcoming and calm. "I had a feeling you'd come."
They sat down in a quiet corner of the store, surrounded by the gentle hum of life. This time, their conversation wasn't about her pain or her past. Instead, Filex guided her toward envisioning her future.
"What do you want, Debbie?" he asked, his eyes searching hers. "Not for Pasco, or anyone else. Just for you."
The question took her by surprise. She had spent so much time fixated on what she'd lost that she hadn't allowed herself to dream of what she could gain.
"I want to feel whole again," she said after a pause. "I want to build a life that makes me proud, whether or not anyone else is a part of it."
Filex nodded, his gaze steady. "That's a good place to start."