Chapter 23

But the car moved a little closer before coming to a stop.

Alexander stepped out of the car calmly, then closed the door behind him.

He paused for a moment, his eyes following Elena as she continued walking ahead of him.

Then he started after her.

He didn't hurry to catch up. Instead, he kept a reasonable distance between them, as though giving her the chance to notice his presence on her own.

A few moments later, his voice came from behind her.

"Elena."

She stopped where she was.

She closed her eyes for a moment, as though hoping she had been mistaken.

Then she slowly turned around.

Alexander stood a few steps away, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, a calm smile resting on his face.

She looked at him for a few moments without saying anything.

Then she asked,

"You?"

His smile widened.

"I was hoping for a warmer welcome than that."

She frowned.

"What are you doing here?"

He answered simply,

"Taking a walk."

She glanced at the street around them, then looked back at him.

"Behind me?"

He thought for a moment before replying,

"All right... that detail might make things seem a little suspicious."

She stared at him.

"A little?"

He chuckled softly.

"Perhaps a lot."

Elena sighed, then turned around to continue walking.

"I'm going home."

"So am I."

She stopped and turned toward him.

"Where are you going?"

He gestured toward the road ahead.

"To the same place you're going, my wife."

"Alexander."

"Yes?"

"You're annoying me."

He smiled.

"I know."

Then he started walking beside her.

She looked at him in surprise.

"Are you going to keep walking with me?"

"If you'll allow me."

"And if I don't?"

He stopped immediately.

"I haven't asked for permission."

She stared at him, as though she hadn't expected that answer.

Then she said,

"You've changed."

He offered a small smile.

"I'm trying."

She resumed walking, and a few moments later, she found him walking a short distance away from her, making no attempt to come any closer.

Silence settled between them for several steps.

Then Alexander said,

"By the way, the car was faster."

She looked at him.

"What?"

"I could have reached you several minutes earlier, but I decided to walk instead."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because I thought you'd be even angrier if the car followed you."

"And you thought I wouldn't be angry if you followed me instead?"

He smiled.

"I was hoping so."

She shook her head in disbelief.

"You're still the same."

He glanced at her for a moment.

"Now you've confused me. Have I changed, or am I still exactly the same?"

She didn't answer and continued walking.

He walked beside her, and silence fell between them again.

A few moments later, he spoke in a lighter tone.

"But I still know that when you're angry, you walk faster."

She looked at him in surprise.

"And you still pay attention to these little details?"

"Unfortunately."

"Unfortunately?"

"Because you never give me a chance to forget you."

She stopped walking for a moment.

Alexander looked at her, then smiled as though realizing he had said more than he intended.

"All right... that was probably more serious than I planned."

Elena couldn't stop a small smile from appearing on her face.

But she quickly hid it.

"Don't think my smile means I've forgiven you."

"I didn't say that."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"Because you smiled."

She fell silent, then turned her face away from him.

"You're arrogant."

He laughed quietly.

"You always say that."

"And I thought you'd stop one day."

"You were wrong."

They continued walking together.

He didn't try to take her hand.

He didn't ask her to come back to him, nor did he bring up the past.

He simply walked beside her.

When they reached the road leading to her home, Alexander stopped.

Elena looked at him.

"You're not coming any farther?"

He shook his head.

"No."

She was surprised. She had expected him to insist on walking her all the way.

"Why?"

He smiled.

"Because I don't want my presence to become a burden to you."

She looked at him silently.

Then he said,

"I'll leave you here."

He turned to go, but stopped after taking two steps.

Then he turned back toward her.

"I have one small request."

She narrowed her eyes cautiously.

"What?"

He smiled.

"Next time you see me, don't look at me as though I'm a wanted criminal."

She looked at him for a few moments before replying,

"I'll think about it."

"That's better than a refusal."

He smiled, then walked away.

Elena remained where she was for a few moments, watching him disappear into the distance.

She didn't know what to make of the strange feeling he had left behind.

Alexander was different.

Or perhaps he was trying to be different.

And for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel as though his return to her life was an intrusion.

It was a small step... a quiet one.

And despite everything that had happened, she couldn't deny that she had noticed it.