Chapter 20 - THE DAY WE WERE FREE
Years later, on Mia’s twelfth birthday, we stood together on the riverbank.
Mia held a single candle. She lit it, and placed it on the flat stone.
“Happy birthday to me,” she whispered. “And happy birthday to you too, Dad. Wherever you are.”
The flame danced in the evening breeze.
Daniel stood beside me. He took my hand.
“Are you happy?” he asked quietly.
I looked at Mia. Standing tall. Whole. Smiling.
I looked at the river. Flowing onward. Forever changing. Forever the same.
“Yes,” I said. “I am finally happy.”
No more secrets. No more threats. No more shadows.
Just us. Just love. Just life.
Mia turned and ran back to us, laughing, her hair flying in the wind. She threw her arms around us both.
“Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”
I kissed the top of her head. “No, baby. Thank you. For being worth every single moment.”
We walked away together, hand in hand, the light fading behind us.
Behind us, the candle burned bright and steady on the stone. A small, brave light against the dark.
And somewhere, I knew, Leo was watching.
Finally at peace.
May you like
Finally free.
And so were we.
