It was him.
I don’t know who moved first—maybe we both did—but suddenly I was in his arms, pressed against him so tightly I could feel his heartbeat. His scent was a mix of salt, sun, and something achingly familiar.
“I thought you were gone,” I choked out.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” he whispered. “I tried, Clara. Every single day, I tried to get back to you.”
We stood there for what felt like forever, letting the world fade away. The ocean roared behind us, but this time, it didn’t sound like loss. It sounded like home.
