A New Beginning

Two months had passed since the darkest night of their lives, and Ashley had finally found the strength to take the first step towards healing. She had made an appointment with a therapist, Dr. Lee, who specialized in grief counseling. The sessions had been a revelation, helping Ashley to process her emotions and find ways to cope with the overwhelming pain of losing Theo. With Dr. Lee's guidance, Ashley had started to rebuild her life, slowly at first, but with growing confidence. One of the first changes Ashley had made was adopting a dog, a playful golden retriever named Franklin. He had brought a sense of joy and companionship into her life, and she found herself smiling more and more in his presence. Franklin had become her constant companion, and she loved taking him on long walks, watching him play, and cuddling with him on the couch. But as much as Ashley had grown and healed, she couldn't shake the feeling that a part of her was still broken. She missed Avan, missed the love they had shared, and the comfort of his arms. She longed to hold him again, to feel his warmth, his love, and his gentle touch. The memories of their life together still lingered, and Ashley knew that she couldn't move on without Avan by her side. Ashley grieved for Theo still, and the pain of losing him would always be a part of her. But she had come to realize that Theo would want her to be happy, to live a full and healthy life. She knew that he would want her to find a way to heal, to love again, and to be with Avan, the man she loved. Avan, on the other hand, seemed to be stuck in his own private hell. He still drank, still got high, and still slept with women who didn't know his story. He had given up on trying to fill the void with fleeting pleasures, but he hadn't found a way to confront his pain, to face his demons. The distance between them had grown so wide that Ashley wasn't sure if Avan still loved her, if he still wanted her. As she sat on the couch, Franklin curled up beside her, Ashley felt a surge of determination. She wanted Avan back, wanted to rekindle the love they had shared. She wanted to hold him again, to feel his love, and to know that he loved her too. It wouldn't be easy, but Ashley was ready to try. She was ready to take the first step, to reach out to Avan, and to see if there was still a chance for them to heal, to love, and to be together again. Ashley took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and sent Avan a simple text: "I miss you." She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should add more, but something held her back. She just wanted to see if he would respond, if he would take the bait, and if he would be willing to take the first step towards healing, towards love, and towards each other. The wait seemed to stretch on forever, but finally, Avan responded: "I miss you too."