Though she could never reclaim those lost years, Carla made a choice—a promise to carry his love with her always. She knew that in helping others, she was keeping his spirit alive, though the weight of what could have been still lingered.
Each time she handed out a scholarship, a warmth spread through her chest, an almost tangible presence. James wasn’t truly gone. He lived in every smile, every tear of relief, every future that had been saved by his sacrifice.