We sat there a while longer, the silence now a bit more comfortable, the baby dozing peacefully in her arms. The world outside continued its steady pace, but for us, time seemed to stretch, giving us space to exist in this moment.
“I missed you,” I finally said, the words feeling like a release.
“I missed you too,” she admitted, her voice soft but sincere.
As we finally got up to leave, I felt a sense of tentative hope. We had a long way to go, but at least we had taken the first step together.
“Let’s not wait so long next time,” I suggested, trying to keep my tone light.
“Yeah,” she agreed, a genuine smile lighting up her face.
We parted at the entrance, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the parking lot as I watched her walk away, James cradled securely in her arms.
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered.
