Chapter 317

• I joined my relatives and close friends in the elegant private lounge, ready to watch the theater troupe’s performance arranged to celebrate the upcoming engagement. Ryan, ever my steadfast partner, insisted on coming along. He had come a long way from a past where he once struggled to get by, sneaking into theaters just to catch a meal or catch a glimpse of a show. Back then, he’d been chased out more times than he could count. But now, he sat confidently in a plush seat, no longer invisible or vulnerable, his success a testament to how far both of us had come.
• As the lights dimmed and the music began an intricate blend of lively rhythms and stirring melodies the festive atmosphere swept through the room. I could feel the weight of the past lifting, if only momentarily. Despite everything, the celebration reminded me that progress in life came one steady step at a time. And through it all, I still had Ryan beside me, my unwavering anchor.
• I glanced at the program but admitted to myself that theater had never really been my passion. I quietly let Emily, Solomon’s wife an avid theater enthusiast with an eye for the perfect performance make the selection. Emily chose a play titled A Happy Union, a narrative perfectly suited for the joyous occasion.