I arrived at the bus station early that chilly morning, the sky a delicate wash of gray and lavender that promised the coming day would be as uncertain as my own thoughts. Every time I stepped into a new city, I carried with me the weight of memories—both sweet and mournful—that reminded me why I was seeking connection. Even though nothing in the past could ever replace what I’d lost, I hoped that building new bonds might, in some small way, help mend the quiet gaps inside me.
As I wandered through the station, my eyes adjusted to the blur of commuters and distant chatter. I was here to see Rhys, my boyfriend—the one who made me feel safe amidst the chaos, who lit up even the dullest days with his steady smile. And there he was, leaning against a column under the grand arch of the termina
