*CHAPTER THIRTY* Life, in all its quiet resilience, moved forward. The grief of Elian’s departure had settled like dust in corners they no longer swept. It was still there, but it didn’t sting anymore. It became something they carried, not as a wound, but a reminder. Elian called every day, just like he promised. Morning calls, evening video chats, random voice notes in the middle of class or after a long day. He spoke to each of them like they mattered, like he’d never left. Sometimes he talked to Manda about classes and how many books she could possibly stack in her arms without falling. Sometimes he helped Blake with his assignments, quizzing him over video like a long-distance tutor. Sometimes they’d talk as a trio, sometimes one-on-one. But his calls to Tamar were different. They started with casual check-ins, but somewhere between those soft “how are you’s” and long midnight conversations, something deeper began to bloom. They talked about everything: law school, healing, the kids, Tamar’s dreams, Elian’s work abroad, faith, doubts, fears, and favorite meals. Sometimes they laughed until their stomachs ached. Other times, they sat in silence, just watching each other across the screen, not needing to fill the space with anything. She had never felt so known. When Blake and Manda's graduation came around, Elian couldn’t make it, but his presence was felt. Two large packages arrived the day before. They both received a handwritten letter, a silver wristwatch, a sleek apple laptop, and a framed photo of the four of them from that Christmas they all wore matching pajamas. Tamar cried when she saw them. Elian also sent a group text that read: _"You’ve made me the proudest father-figure on earth. Keep going, I’m always in your corner even from miles away."_ Manda texted back with a million emojis. Blake sent a voice note saying, “I’m gonna be the best like you, Elian.” And Tamar? She didn’t say much, just typed, _“Thank you. For never letting go.”_ That summer, Manda got accepted into law school, same one Tamar was in and almost done. Blake, also got accepted into law school about two weeks after. Elian couldn’t stop beaming in every call. He told everyone he worked with about “his kids.” He even printed their pictures and kept them on his office wall. But while the others adjusted to life without him, Tamar found herself holding tighter. Every night, their video calls became a ritual. She’d sit cross-legged on her bed, hair wrapped, textbooks scattered, and Elian on her screen, sipping tea or eating late-night cereal. They talked for hours. About case studies and scriptures, broken systems and childhood memories, favorite smells, and secret fears. And slowly, gently, Tamar’s walls started to crumble. But so did her courage. She was falling in love, deeper than before. But the more she felt, the more afraid she became. He was too good, too safe and kind, too steady. And she was a girl who used to sell her body just to survive. A girl with a history too tainted, too ugly. A girl who still sometimes woke up with shame wrapped around her ribs like chains. She couldn’t understand how someone like him could love someone like her. One night, the guilt spilled out. Elian had just finished telling her about a conference he was attending. He looked tired, but happy. And Tamar, staring at him through the screen, felt like the imposter in a life she was borrowing. “Elian,” she said suddenly, voice low. He stopped mid-sentence. “Yeah?” “Do you ever wonder… why me?” He tilted his head. “What do you mean?” She looked down at her hands. “Why you love me, why you choose to stay... I mean, you could be with someone pure and whole, someone uncomplicated.” His face softened immediately. “Tamar…” She rushed on. “You know my story, you know where I’ve been, what I’ve done. Sometimes I feel like you deserve someone... better.” He was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, “You think love is a reward?” She blinked. He leaned closer to the screen. “You think I love you because you earned it?” “I think you love me in spite of who I was.” "I love you because of who you are, who you fought to become, and who you’re still becoming.” Tamar felt tears sting her eyes. Elian continued. “You’re not broken pieces glued back together, you’re gold that survived fire. You think your past makes you less deserving of love. But Tamar, your story makes your love even more sacred. You give it like someone who knows the cost. And I’d choose you in every version of your story. Every single one.” She covered her mouth with her hand. He smiled gently. “Don’t let shame write the ending. Let love do that. Okay?" That night, Tamar wrote in her journal again. _I am learning that love isn’t for the worthy. It’s for the willing. And maybe I’m willing now… willing to believe I’m not too filthy for something this beautiful._ ... _*FINAL CHAPTER WOULD BE OUT TOMORROW*_