There was no moment when everything became clear.
No declaration. No dramatic turning point.
Just a series of small choices.
Daniel showed up when he said he would.
Amara spoke without shrinking.
Silence was shared—not avoided.
One evening, sitting together without tension, Amara realized she wasn't bracing anymore. She wasn't managing the emotional space alone.
It didn't mean the past was erased.
It meant the future was no longer automatic.
And for the first time since the erosion began, the relationship felt like something they were both inside—fully, honestly, and awake.