The town's annual festival lit up the bay with lanterns and fireworks. Leila displayed her artwork for the first time in years, encouraged by Aiden. Townsfolk admired her work, and for once, she stood in the glow of their praise without flinching.
For the first time, Aiden walked hand-in-hand with Leila in the crowd. They danced to soft music, shared laughter with townsfolk, and watched the sky shimmer above them. The town that once whispered about him now smiled. He no longer hid. He had found his light. And in the reflections on the water, they saw how far they'd come.