Aisha and Alex's dates became more frequent, and she felt herself falling. But she was cautious, remembering the lessons she'd learned. No more pretending, no more facade.
One evening, as they strolled by the beach, Alex turned to her and said, "I like you, Aisha. The real you." Aisha's heart skipped a beat. She felt the same, but was scared to say it.
As she looked into his eyes, Aisha realized she'd found something special. She took a deep breath and let her guard down. "I like you too," she said, smiling.