Chapter 13: Starting Over
With the legal matters mostly resolved, I finally allowed myself to think about what I wanted next.
My nonprofit was growing. We had taken on more cases and hired two new staff members. I was busier than ever, but the work felt meaningful in a way it hadn’t before.
One evening, after a long day, I received a message from David — the colleague I had reconnected with earlier. We had been talking more frequently over the past few months, and our conversations had slowly shifted from professional to personal.
David: Want to grab dinner this weekend? No pressure. Just thought it might be nice to catch up properly.
I stared at the message for a long time.
Part of me was still hesitant. After everything that had happened with Adrian, the idea of opening myself up to someone new felt terrifying. But another part of me was tired of being alone.
I typed back.
Evelyn: I’d like that.
We met for dinner that Saturday. It was simple and easy. David didn’t ask about Adrian or the scandal. He just asked about my work, my nonprofit, and how I was doing. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I could talk without having to explain or defend myself.
After dinner, he walked me to my car.
“I know you’ve been through a lot,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to rush anything. But I like spending time with you. And I’d like to keep doing that, if you’re open to it.”
I looked at him.
May you like
“I think I am,” I said.
It was a small step. But it felt like the beginning of something real.
