I just have this idea in my head of Dan meeting the reader during his drinking days and she was just such a kind, warm person that he felt he didn’t deserve so he left her behind and moved on to the next town only to run into her again years later when he’s finally sober and that whole concept just makes me so soft and I didn’t know who else to share it with but you :’)
This is just- so very cute.
You would have been able to see how strong Dan really was, urging him on, helping him, supporting him. But he was too deep into his alcoholism, and it made him feel guilty for having such a sweet person around all the time. To heal, he had to support himself as well. He didn’t start to do that until years later, when you had run into him and his sunshiney face which was nearly unrecognizable. His beard was gone, he looked clean-cut, sharp, and most important of all - happy.
However, he looked even happier when he saw you, and he knew he would do whatever it took to get you back. It wouldn’t be hard though, you were instantly his again as soon as he said hello.