But if we do anything from now on, I want it to be honest.”
For the first time in years, Raymond looked completely stunned.
Then he smiled.
Not triumphantly.
Not like a man who believed he had finally earned a reward.
He smiled like someone who had waited half his life simply for the chance to be known.
We didn’t suddenly become a perfect couple.
There were difficult conversations.
There were questions I still needed answered.
There was anger that couldn’t disappear overnight.
Instead, we started slowly.
Honestly.
Weeks later,