"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, and loving someone deeply gives you courage."
—Lao Tzu
After graduation, Dylan began working at a friend's company alongside several classmates, including Andrea. In this new phase of their lives, he and Ailín saw each other less often. Their paths were beginning to diverge—but both made the effort to stay close.
Ailín felt she was slowly learning to manage her insecurities in new ways. She had grown. And yet, every time Dylan visited her on campus, old fears resurfaced.
Girls swarmed around him without shame—taking selfies, grabbing his arm, laughing too loudly just to be noticed. Ailín smiled politely, but inside, she felt tense.
The worst part? Dylan clearly enjoyed the attention, even if he never crossed any lines.
Once, when one of the girls stood too close, Ailín quietly stepped aside, as if trying to disappear. That was when Oscurita reappeared—soft as a breeze, sharp as a blade.
"Look at them," she whispered. "So confident. So free. And you? Still doubting. Do you really think you belong next to someone like him?"
Dylan, sensing her discomfort, would always come back to her. He'd lean in, wrap an arm around her, and say softly:
"You're the only one. The rest don't matter."
Then, hand in hand, they would walk away together.
Fear still lived in the corners of Ailín's mind—but it no longer ruled her. She had learned that while Dylan gave her comfort, her true strength had to come from within.
They kept building—step by step—until the day Ailín graduated with honors.
At the ceremony, Dylan took her hand and said something she would never forget.
"I want my parents to meet you. I want everyone to know how incredible you are."
Ailín felt overwhelmed. She had never imagined that moment would come. But in his eyes, she saw sincerity. He wanted to share his world with her—not just as a partner, but as his equal.
That weekend, she nervously joined him on a visit to his family. As they walked toward the door, Dylan took her hand.
"You don't have to worry, Ailín," he whispered, his voice steady. "I love you just the way you are. This is your place too."
She was welcomed with warmth. Dylan's mother poured her tea. His father asked thoughtful questions. But it was his younger sister who stole her heart.
"You're my sister now, right?" the little girl said, grabbing her hand.
Ailín felt a lump in her throat. For the first time, she truly felt accepted.
Later that night, after the visit, Dylan's sister asked him:
"She's pretty," she said.
"She's amazing," Dylan replied with a smile.
"Are you gonna marry her?"
He paused, heart full. "Yeah," he said. "I think I will."
Months passed. Ailín landed a great job at a dubbing and translation company where she could use her language skills. Dylan was promoted to department head. Their financial stability allowed them to take a big step—he bought a small apartment in a popular area for young couples.
He knew the time had come.
On the day of the proposal, Dylan picked her up from work.
"I want to show you something," he said.
He led her to an empty apartment. A sofa. A small table with candles. Two glasses.
He poured the wine. She smiled, then spoke first.
"There's something I've never told you," she began softly, tracing the rim of her glass.
"What is it?" Dylan asked gently.
"There was a time when I couldn't even hear my own voice. There was a shadow in my mind—Oscurita. She made me believe I was never enough."
Dylan reached across the table, took her hand in his.
"She doesn't get to win anymore," he whispered.
"She already lost," Ailín said with a tearful smile. "The day I met you."
The candlelight flickered softly as Dylan stood and took a step closer.
"You don't have to be afraid," he said. "I'm here to stay. Will you marry me?"
The world stopped. For a moment, she heard Oscurita again.
"What if you're not ready? What if you ruin it?"
But Ailín didn't listen. Not this time.
She looked into Dylan's eyes. Her voice shook, but her heart was clear.
"Yes," she said. "Yes, Dylan. I will."
She hugged him, moved closer, and kissed him deeply. Then, laughing, she asked him why they had gone to that empty apartment. Dylan smiled sweetly at her.
"Because this will be our home. This is where we will start something new. Together."
She hugged him tightly and kissed him with a passion that had been building for years.
Dylan wrapped his arms around her, and that night, they committed themselves to each other, knowing that love is not just a promise, but something to be built.
It was an intimate, warm, and honest night. The empty walls were filled with soft laughter, whispered words, and glances that spoke of the future.
The sofa, the table, and the glasses were witnesses to a silent pact. "I am here. I want to stay."
Amid laughter, tenderness, and skin, that night they became home.
The following days blurred together with preparations, stories, and everyday moments that felt like an eternity. Finally, surrounded by their loved ones, they got married and started a new life together.
The next morning, they woke up in each other's arms. Ailín rested her head on Dylan's chest, and he stroked her hair.
She smiled.
He looked at her as if the whole world fit in his eyes.
Although they didn't know it yet...
As in every true story, the challenges would soon arrive.