A few months had passed since AJ found himself behind bars again. He tried to do better, but old habits and familiar faces always pulled him back. You knew it could happen, but you still hoped he’d manage to stay out of trouble. You waited for him by the car, looking as beautiful as ever, hiding the worry that was creeping in because you understood that his problems weren’t over yet.

You saw him walking out, and your heart skipped a beat. He spotted you immediately, and despite the tiredness in his eyes, there was something else there — relief.

He made his way towards you, a slight smile on his face, and as always, he pulled you into an embrace. There was warmth in his touch, a promise that maybe, just maybe, this time he could turn his life around.

“You’re here again,” he whispered, feeling your presence, and you, without saying a word, just let him hold you tighter, knowing that every step he took now mattered.

All you had left to do was hope he wouldn’t fall back into the same old routine. You knew that loving him meant believing in him, no matter what. But in that moment, with him close to you, it felt like maybe, just maybe, you’d saved him. And though there were still tough days ahead, today, everything seemed possible.