Chapter 35: The Shared Horizon

"I told him without missing a beat that I am staying close to home," James answered firmly, his voice steady and resolute in the dark. "The state university campus down in Austin is only an hour and a half away by highway. Close enough to drive back every weekend, and close enough that we don't have to change anything about what we've built here." Lily felt a profound wave of relief wash over her entire body, realizing that their bright future was not a threat to their past, but its natural, beautiful continuation.