If I loved You Again

hope settling over her. Today was another chance, a day to be with Ari, to bond wit

the river. Kim agreed, wanting the fresh air, the gentle movement, and the

wed at a slower pace. Ari walked beside her, her hand brushing lightly against

i's calm presence, the warm sunlight on their faces it was almost like a

just Lily's jacket, and the girl looked momentarily startled, her little hands flinching aw

"Is everything okay

, smiling lightly. "Yes, just a lit

of a second, tugged at a deep protective instinct. She remembered Ari's own words about the year

e brought her bac

rtable," Kim said carefully. "She flinched

it's not you. I promise. She's just... adjusting, that's all. S

noticing the subtle ways Lily watched Ari, the careful caution in her movements. And slowly, Kim realized that the smal

a softness that made her heart ache. "I know it's a lot," Ari said quietly. "And I don't expec

irresistible. "I... I want to," she said finally.

l figure it out together. Step by ste

noticed Lily's guarded trust softening, her laughter returning, her hands finally reaching for K

gnore the lingering worry in her chest. Trust, once broken, took time to mend. And while Ari's words

at Ari. "Thank you," she said softly. "For... for lettin

s face. "Nothing worth having ever is," she said. "An

tender moments. But she knew the real challenges were just beginning balancing love, f

thing profound: love wasn't perfect. It was messy, complicated, and sometimes terr

ed herself to believe that maybe, j