Chapter 28: "A New Beginning"

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains as Alex and Taylor stirred from their slumber. The emotional turmoil of the past week had left them drained, yet their bond felt stronger than ever. Alex turned to Taylor, still cocooned in the warmth of their shared blanket, and gently brushed a wayward strand of hair from her face. "Good morning," he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep. Taylor's eyes fluttered open, a smile spreading across her face as she met Alex's gaze. "Morning. How did you sleep?" "Better than I have in days," Alex replied, his expression softening. "I think everything's finally starting to settle." As they went about their morning routine, Taylor suggested, "How about we take a walk around the city? Just enjoy the day and each other's company." Alex readily agreed, feeling the need to reconnect with the world outside their apartment. They set off hand in hand, the familiar streets of San Francisco seeming to pulse with renewed energy that matched