They stood facing each other, unsure who should speak first.
"You look… happy," Aarav said finally.
"So do you," Meera replied.
They both knew it wasn't entirely true.
They walked, talked, laughed awkwardly. The comfort returned—not instantly, but honestly.
"I was afraid before," Meera admitted quietly.
"So was I," Aarav said. "I still am."
Fear, they realized, hadn't disappeared.
But courage had arrived.