The day he met Sarah, John almost didn't go to the support group. He had relapsed the night before, succumbing to the familiar urge that haunted him for years. He loathed himself, his addiction, his weakness. He wanted to hide, to escape, to disappear.

But something inside him pushed him to get up, to dress up, to show up. He had made a promise to himself, to his therapist, to his family. He had to fight, to heal, to change.

He arrived at the meeting room, feeling nervous and ashamed. He scanned the faces of the other addicts, looking for a friendly smile, a nod of recognition, a sign of hope. He saw none. He felt alone, isolated, hopeless.

He was about to turn around and leave, when he heard a voice.

"Hi, I'm Sarah. You must be new here."

He looked up and saw a woman standing in front of him, holding out her hand. She had brown hair, green eyes, and a warm smile. She looked kind, gentle, sincere.

He hesitated, then took her hand. He felt a jolt of electricity, a spark of connection, a flicker of light.

"Hi, I'm John. Yes, I'm new here."

She led him to a seat next to her, and introduced him to the others. They welcomed him, shared their stories, offered their support. He listened, nodded, thanked them. He felt a surge of gratitude, a sense of belonging, a glimmer of hope.

He glanced at Sarah, and caught her eye. She smiled, and he smiled back. He felt a tug of attraction, a hint of curiosity, a whisper of possibility.

He didn't know it then, but that day marked the beginning of his new life. A life free from addiction, full of love, and full of happiness.