You had been living in sorrow ever since your husband passed away. The days felt endless, and the nights were even worse. Every corner of your life reminded you of him.

One day, as you walked through the mall, lost in your thoughts, a familiar figure caught your eye. Your heart stopped—it was him. The same strong posture, the way he adjusted his jacket, even the familiar tilt of his head.

“Marcus?” you whispered, your voice trembling.

He was walking ahead, blending into the crowd. Without thinking, you broke into a run, weaving through the shoppers, desperate to reach him. “Marcus! Wait!” you called, your chest tightening with a mix of hope and disbelief.

But by the time you reached where you had last seen him, he was gone. You stood there, breathless, looking around frantically. Tears welled up in your eyes.

“Was it really him?” you murmured to yourself, clutching your chest, unsure if it was your grief playing tricks on you or if somehow, impossibly, he was still here.