Chapter 9: The First Spark
That weekend, Jax decided to take the family to the town lake—a place where he and Clara used to spend summers before the accident. The weather was mild, the water shimmering under a clear blue sky.
Leo and Lily ran along the wooden pier, throwing small pebbles into the water, their laughter echoing across the lake. Jax and Clara sat on a wooden bench nearby, watching them closely.
""They look so happy,"" Clara said, a soft, genuine smile touching her lips.
""They're complete now,"" Jax replied. ""And so are we.""
As the afternoon sun began to set, casting an orange glow across the water, a sudden gust of wind blew Lily's sunhat off her head and onto the wooden dock. Clara reached down to catch it, her fingers brushing against the worn wooden railing.
Suddenly, Clara froze. Her breathing hitched, her eyes widening as a vivid memory flashed through her mind—not a hazy dream, but a crystal-clear memory from six years ago.
She saw Jax standing right here on this dock, holding a small silver ring, asking her to marry him under the setting sun.
""Jax..."" she breathed, turning to him slowly, her eyes shining with tears of realization. ""You asked me right here. You were wearing a green shirt... and you almost dropped the ring into the water.""
May you like
Jax’s breath caught in his throat. ""You remember?""
""I remember,"" she whispered, a tear spilling over her cheek—this time, a tear of joy. ""I remember the ring. I remember you.""
