"That's so lovely." Vivi said, her voice brimming with sincerity. "She saw you for who you are, not what others thought. What happened after that? How did you two come together?"
The old man's face softened, his eyes crinkling with a tender smile as he leaned back in his chair. Vivi's question hung in the air, and he seemed to sink deeper into his memories, the weight of his grief mingling with the warmth of recollection.
"After that day..." He began, his voice slow and rich with nostalgia. "Things changed for me. Lila...she wasn't just a passing fancy. We started seeing each other all the time. I'd make excuses to deliver manure to her father's farm, and she'd be there, waiting with that smile of hers. She'd tease me about the smell, but then she'd roll up her sleeves and help me push the cart, not caring a whit about the dirt."
