Meanwhile, in the central market square of Denver, the acrobats had started their act. Men in tight, bright costumes flipped through the air, forming human pyramids and tumbling with impossible grace.
Marissa stood in the front row of the crowd, her eyes wide. She clapped her hands, cheering loudly along with the children around her.
"Higher!" she shouted, laughing as one acrobat launched himself from a springboard.
Derek stood beside her, watching her instead of the show. He saw the way her face lit up. He saw the way she leaned forward, completely absorbed in the spectacle. It was a side of her he had never seen—joyful, uncomplicated, and free.
The performance ended with a final, dramatic pose. The crowd erupted in applause. Marissa clapped until her palms stung.
Derek felt a warmth in his chest. He reached out, his hand moving to take hers again. He wanted to keep that connection, that feeling of unity they had shared a moment ago.
But Marissa was already moving.
