Julian broke down and wept.

Nothing was easy after that. There were arguments and doubts and days when everything felt fragile again — times Abigail nearly asked him to leave, times Julian fought the urge to run.

But this time, he stayed.

Dr. Pierce stayed too, offering steady support without judgment. Abigail held her ground and refused to lose herself again. And Mason grew, quietly pulling all of them forward.

A year later, Mason took his first steps and toppled into his father’s arms while Abigail laughed and Dr. Pierce watched with wet eyes. Two years later, Abigail had a steady job, and Julian had changed — still imperfect, but trying in the ways that count.

One evening, Julian sat across from her with a small ring in his trembling hand. “I’m not asking you to forget anything,” he said. “I just want the chance to keep showing up.”