One evening, as Debbie and Filex shared a quiet moment on his balcony, she asked, "You never talk much about your family. Why?"
Filex hesitated, sipping his wine before answering.
"They're good people. Kind, loving. But it's complicated."
"Complicated how?" Debbie pressed, leaning closer. Filex looked at her, his expression softening. "They want me to follow a path that doesn't feel right for me. They've given me everything, but I'm still figuring out who I am outside of all that."
Debbie nodded, understanding more than he expected.
"Sometimes, having everything can be just as hard as having nothing. Different weights, but they're still heavy."
Filex smiled at her insight. "You always surprise me, Debbie."
She grinned. "Good. Keep you on your toes."
For the first time in years, Filex felt like he could share his world with someone. But introducing Debbie to his family would be another challenge entirely—one that neither of them was ready for just yet.