Chapter 9: The Weight of the Past
Despite their progress, Aiden's past continued to cast a shadow over their relationship. One afternoon, he took Reina to a small memorial garden tucked away in the city—a place he hadn't visited since Elise's death.
"I wanted you to see this," he said as they stood before a plaque engraved with Elise's name. "She was a part of my life, and she'll always be a part of me. But I'm learning that holding on doesn't mean I can't move forward."
Reina placed a hand on his arm. "It's okay to carry her memory with you. It doesn't make what we have any less meaningful."
Aiden nodded, his gaze steady. "Thank you, Reina. For understanding. For everything."
In that moment, Reina knew they had turned a corner. The weight of Aiden's grief would never fully disappear, but it no longer felt insurmountable.