Over the following weeks, Filex became a quiet but steady presence in Debbie's life. He didn't try to fix her—he simply walked beside her as she fixed herself. They met regularly, sometimes at the music store, other times for walks through the park.
Filex shared pieces of his own journey, how his ability had shaped his life and the struggles that came with it. Debbie, in turn, opened up about her childhood, her family's financial struggles, and the pressures she placed on herself.
Each conversation helped her grow.Her nights were no longer filled with sleepless regret.
Instead, she journaled about her progress, setting small goals for herself. She even started saving bits of money from odd freelance gigs, slowly rebuilding her confidence in managing her own future.
One evening, as they walked under the city's glowing streetlights, Debbie turned to Filex. "Do you ever feel like you're carrying the world's weight on your shoulders? With your ability, I mean."
Filex smiled, his eyes thoughtful. "Sometimes. But I've learned that I don't have to carry it alone. People like you remind me of that."
Debbie felt a warmth she hadn't experienced in a long time
-a sense of being truly understood, not because someone pitied her, but because they saw her for who she was.