I thought my husband Anthony had drowned three years ago, his boat lost in a sudden storm. I buried him in my heart and grieved so deeply I even lost our unborn child. Healing was slow, and the ocean became my greatest fear. One day, I finally booked a solo beach trip to face it.

I met him again, showing old photos and our ultrasound, but his eyes stayed distant. The love I once knew now shone for Kaitlyn and her daughter. Their home was full of warmth, laughter, and pictures of a family I wasn’t part of. My heart ached, but I couldn’t take him from them.

I told him the man I loved had died three years ago, and he should stay where his heart truly belonged. Leaving that house, I realized I was saying goodbye for real this time. For the first time since the storm, I could breathe. Now, it was my turn to start over and live again.