Debbie sat on the floor of her apartment, Pasco's letter resting on the coffee table. She had read it three times now, each word pulling her back to a version of herself she had fought so hard to leave behind. She thought of all the nights she had cried over him, the endless questions that had consumed her, and the girl who had begged for love in texts left unanswered. That girl had loved him deeply, but she had also been lost.
Now, Debbie wasn't that girl anymore. She was stronger, but her heart still carried the scars Pasco had left behind. And those scars made her hesitant to fully open up to Filex, even as their relationship blossomed.
Filex, with his calming presence and the way he always seemed to know what she was feeling, had been a light in her darkest moments. But could she give him her whole heart when a piece of it still belonged to Pasco? Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts.
Filex:
Dinner tonight? I'm making something special.
A small smile tugged at her lips. Filex never pressured her, never demanded more than she could give. He let her move at her own pace, and that made her feel safe.
Debbie:
I'll bring dessert.