Dave J'agoni was not the kind of man who demanded attention.
He didn't need it.
He carried himself with quiet confidence, like someone who knew his worth and didn't feel the need to prove it to anyone. In my previous life, I ignored him. I brushed him off like a passing breeze, believing that love was something that had to be dramatic, loud, and painful.
Jon had taught me that.
Jon had made me believe that love meant suffering.
Dave, on the other hand, treated love like something sacred. Something to protect, not destroy.
When I saw him again, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time relief.
He came to the house that afternoon, not as a guest, but as a man who belonged there. My parents welcomed him warmly, and I realized how much my father respected him. How much my mother trusted him.
Dave looked at me and smiled softly, like he had been waiting for me to wake up.
"You look tired," he said.
I laughed quietly, but there was no humor in it.
"I am tired," I admitted. "I've been through a lot."
Dave nodded slowly, as if he understood without needing every detail.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I know you don't owe me anything. I just want you to know I'm here."
The words were simple, but they hit me like a warm hand on a cold night.
In my previous life, I had been so obsessed with Jon that I didn't even notice how much Dave cared. I didn't notice how he would look at me from across the room, his eyes filled with kindness and longing.
I had thought it was weakness.
Now I understood it was love.
Later that evening, we walked to the garden. The air was cool, the sky clear, and the world felt peaceful in a way it hadn't in years. Dave didn't speak much. He didn't try to impress me. He simply walked beside me, allowing me to set the pace.
I felt my guard slowly lowering.
For the first time, I realized I could live without fear.
Dave stopped and looked at me.
"Meenah," he said gently. "I know you're scared. But I want you to know I'm not here to replace anyone. I'm here because I care about you."
I swallowed hard. "Why do you care so much?"
Dave's expression softened. "Because you deserve peace. Because you deserve to be loved without pain."
His words made my eyes sting.
I didn't answer. I didn't know what to say. I had been so used to love being a weapon that kindness felt unfamiliar.
But I wanted it.
And that realization scared me more than anything else.