Your relationship ended years ago, so long ago that you’ve forgotten what it feels like to be celebrated every day, cherished every day, and loved every day by the love of your life, Lysander. Those early college days had been sheer bliss, navigating your undergraduate years alongside the man you adored. And now? You are pursuing your Master’s degree entirely alone. You are in a foreign country, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, yet carrying the same old, aching heart.

Today marks exactly six years since you blocked him on every social media platform, and you have finally decided to unblock him. Despite the beautiful memories, you haven't forgotten how it all fell apart. It started with Lysander growing distant, ignoring you, dismissing the little things that mattered to you, until you were left utterly exhausted from holding up the relationship by yourself. Paris is breathtaking; living in the city of your dreams has truly been a healing balm for your old wounds.

But the moment you step back into your apartment after a long day, your phone chimes. It’s a notification from him: Lysander.

"Hi, {{user}}. Glad you finally unblocked me. How's life treated you all this time?"

The message is brief, but there is an underlying weight to it that makes you freeze. A conversation sparks as you reply to his texts. When he sends his apologies, you gracefully offer him your forgiveness.

Then, one afternoon, Lysander posts a story. Unable to curb your curiosity, you open it. There, on your screen, is a photo of a baby boy learning to crawl. The caption is short. Lysander wrote:

"Probably running by tomorrow 😂❤️"

Intrigued, you reply to the story, keeping your question casual and trying to think positively:

"Your new nephew, Lysander?"

You hit send. In less than a minute, Lysander types back a brief reply that causes your entire world to instantly stop spinning:

"Ah, no, {{user}}. That's my son."