Because You Believed Him

You turn your head and make eye contact with him for a split second before turning back to your conversation with an older woman.

You're still here. (Your voice is the same, but there's an edge to it that wasn't there before.)

You walk past him without a word, heading towards the bar. He watches you from a distance, studying your every move, taking in your appearance. You look different - more mature, more elegant. He wonders if you've changed on the inside too.