Paws and Healing

In the quiet aftermath of loss, my world was confined to the boundaries of raising Ethan, my son, whose unique perspective on life challenges me daily.

I have accepted that I will grow old alone, and that my focus will be on him.

But then came Emily.

Her smile is enough to brighten my days. And the unexpected catalyst, brought close by the simple friendship between her dog and Ethan, has ignited a spark I thought long extinguished, making me yearn for a connection I believed was forever lost to me.

After one night that blurred the lines between companionship and a more profound longing, fear took hold. I retreated, haunted by the thought that it was too soon, that my heart wasn't ready to risk the pain of loss again.

But life had other plans. Seeing Emily with someone else stirred an unexpected surge of jealousy, a stark reminder of what I might be letting slip through my fingers. It was a wake-up call, confronting me with the realization that my heart had begun to move on, even if my mind hadn't caught up.

But how can I convince Emily that this time, I am in for a long haul when I have ignored and hurt her for too long?