"I loved her."
Nora nodded.
"I'm glad you did."
He looked toward her.
"She wasn't a substitute for you."
Nora raised her head.
"I never thought she was."
"And you can't become a substitute for her."
Her eyes filled.
"I wouldn't want to."
Daniel nodded.
He seemed relieved.
Then he looked toward the old photograph.
"I don't know the woman you've become."
Nora swallowed.
"No."
"And you don't know everything about the man I am."
She shook her head.
"No."
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Daniel said something she had not expected.
"Maybe we ought to start there."
Nora stared.
"What?"
He looked toward her.
"Not at fourteen."
She felt her breath catch.
"At sixty."
He continued.
"If we ever have anything together, it needs to belong to the people we are now. Not just the kids on the bridge."
Nora began crying again.
But this time, the tears carried something other than regret.
Hope.
Small.
Fragile.
Not yet secure.
She nodded.
"I'd like that."
Daniel studied her.
Then added, "Slowly."
She gave a shaky smile.
"Very slowly."
He nodded.
"And honestly."
Her voice broke.
"Yes."
He looked toward the coffee.
Then smiled faintly.
"Starting with whether that's actually coffee or something that costs thirty dollars a cup."
Nora laughed through tears.
"Ordinary coffee."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"You're sure?"
"I made it myself."
He considered the statement.
Then smiled.
"In that case, I'm considerably more worried."
She laughed.
For one brief moment, the room felt lighter.
Not because everything had been forgiven.
But because they had finally begun speaking as adults who could choose whether to know one another.
Daniel did not kiss Nora before leaving.
He did not promise to return.
He did not accept an offer of money, business assistance, or anything that could blur the boundary between them.
They had talked for nearly three hours.
He was tired.
His recovery required care.
And he needed time to think.
At the door, Nora looked toward him.
"Daniel."
He turned.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for coming."
He nodded.
"Thank you for answering."
She swallowed.
"I know I hurt you."
He looked at her.
"Yes."