Chapter 14: Reflections on the Water
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in breathtaking shades of purple, crimson, and gold, the guests began to depart.
Glen stood near his car, preparing to head back to town. Toby came running over to give him one last hug. ""Thanks for the bike, Dad! It's the best present ever!""
""You're welcome, buddy. Practice safety, okay? I'll see you on Tuesday for your soccer game.""
""Deal!"" Toby gave a high-five and ran back inside to play with his gifts.
Glen turned to Sarah, who was leaning against the porch railing. ""You've built an incredible life here, Sarah.""
""We built it, Glen,"" Sarah corrected gently. ""It took all of us choosing to heal instead of remaining bitter.""
Glen nodded, a teardrop glistening in his eye, though a peaceful smile rested on his lips. ""I used to think that making that terrible mistake was the end of my life. But seeing how strong you've become, and how happy Toby is... it taught me what real strength means.""
May you like
""We all grew up, Glen,"" Sarah said softly. ""Safe travels back to town.""
As Glen drove down the winding gravel road, he looked in his rearview mirror. He saw Sarah walking toward the dock, where David was waiting for her with two blankets. Glen took a deep, clear breath, finally at peace with his past.
