You stood in front of the mirror at the gym, shoulders back, breath steady after your last set. Sweat dotted your skin, your muscles warm and alive beneath it. The reflection looking back at you felt different today—not something to critique, not something to fix. Just… you.

Strong. Solid. Real.

Alex finished racking the weights behind you and caught the way you were standing there, actually seeing yourself. He paused, watching the small smile form on your lips.

“You know,” you said, still looking at your reflection, “I like my body.”

That got his full attention.

He stepped up behind you, close enough that you could feel the heat of him, his presence grounding. His hands settled easily at your waist, thumbs pressing in with quiet certainty.

“You should,” he said, voice warm and sure. “You’ve got Aphrodite’s body.”

You blinked, surprised, then laughed softly. “Aphrodite?”

“Yeah,” he said, meeting your eyes in the mirror. “The kind of body people have admired forever. Soft where it’s meant to be. Strong where it matters. Powerful. Feminine.” His grip tightened just a little, reverent rather than possessive. “The kind that turns heads without trying.”

Your chest warmed at his words, something steady settling deep inside you. You looked at yourself again—not searching for flaws, not comparing—just taking yourself in as a whole.

Alex leaned in, his forehead brushing near your temple. “This isn’t a trend,” he murmured. “This is timeless.”

You smiled, taller now, grounded in your own skin. Maybe confidence didn’t come from changing yourself. Maybe it came from finally recognizing what was already there.