Life settled into a rhythm that Alex hadn’t realized he’d been craving. Not chaotic. Not dramatic. Not urgent. Just steady. He woke when the sun nudged him, brewed tea, and watched the city stretch awake. He walked familiar streets, past cafes and markets, past people who had once felt like statistics in a battle he couldn’t always control. Now, they were individuals. Names, faces, lives—not numbers or outcomes. The bond pulsed quietly, like a heartbeat he didn’t have to chase. It was no longer demanding, no longer insistent. It was a companion, gentle and aware. Brian joined him on one of these walks, hands stuffed into his pockets, the world reflected in his soft, alert gaze. ❄️ “You’ve changed,” Brian said, voice casual, but with an edge of curiosity. Alex smiled faintly. “I think the city changed me more than I changed it.” Brian chuckled. ❄️ “You always underestimate yourself.” Alex shook his head. “Maybe. But I don’t feel like I need to be a hero anymore.” Brian consid
Read more