They ate slowly, side by side, under soft garden lights as the moon climbed higher.
Adam poured her a glass of sparkling cider, not champagne, and passed her a plate of her favorite comfort foods—grilled salmon, warm garlic rice, and fresh mango slices. There were no servers, no distractions, just him and her and the sound of the wind moving gently through the trees.
Sofia kept stealing glances at him, as if still trying to believe this night was real. At one point, she placed her fork down, folded her hands on her lap, and turned to him fully.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Adam looked up, surprised by the emotion in her voice. "For what?"
"For tonight. For remembering," she said, her eyes glistening. "For giving me a birthday I wasn't afraid of. It's not the lights or the music or the dress—it's you. Just being here with you... it's more than I ever thought I'd get back."
He didn't say anything at first. He just reached across the table and took her hand.
