Chapter 14 - THE LOVE SHE THOUGHT SHE'D LOST FOREVER
Cora and Wesley's relationship developed slowly.
They spent months getting to know each other.
They talked about their childhoods.
Their mistakes.
Their fears.
Their hopes.
Cora told Wesley about Daniel.
Not as a shadow between them.
But as someone who had been an important part of her life.
Wesley listened.
He never asked her to forget.
Never treated Daniel's memory as competition.
One evening, they walked along the harbor.
Cora stopped.
“Wesley.”
He looked at her.
“Yes?”
“I'm scared.”
He nodded.
“Of what?”
“Loving someone again.”
Wesley took her hand.
“You don't have to rush.”
She looked at him.
“What if I never stop missing Daniel?”
Wesley smiled gently.
“Then you keep missing him.”
Her eyes filled.
He continued.
“Love isn't a limited resource, Cora.”
She began crying.
Wesley stepped closer.
“I'm not asking you to replace him.”
He paused.
“I'm asking whether there's room in your future for me.”
Cora looked at him.
Then smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
May you like
He kissed her gently.
And for the first time in years, Cora allowed herself to believe happiness wasn't a betrayal of grief.
