Damian took a slow, hesitant step forward, his gaze never wavering from her. His eyes were filled with a longing so intense it could have brought the stars to their knees.

He reached out, his hand trembling as he brushed his fingertips against her cheek, his touch warm and achingly real, grounding her in a reality she was too afraid to believe.

“It is I, mi amore,” he murmured, his voice a mixture of tenderness and apology, as if he knew the anguish he had left in his wake. “Spirit, soul, and body. I’m here… I’m really here.”

Racheal's breath caught, her heart pounding as though it might tear through...