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“Nicolo, please,” I whisper, tears brimming in my eyes as I plead with him. “I’m so sorry. I know I should have told you sooner, but please, please, don’t take Clara from me. She’s all I have in this world. And she needs her mother–”
Nicolo presses a finger to my lips, silencing me as his green eyes warn me of his impending anger. I start to tremble, my anxiety consuming me, but I don’t step aside. I won’t just willingly let him take her. I bite down hard on my lip to silence the sobs that tear from my chest as I’m consumed by how helpless I am to protect my daughter at this moment.
“God, what have I done?” he breathes.
For a moment, I’m not quite sure what his words could possibly mean.
“Anya, I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean anything I said earlier. I would never take Clara away from you. I’ve been so blind. I…”
Nicolo falters, seeming lost for what else to say, and in the silence that follows, my mind manages to translate the meaning of his words. The tears come more quickly now, flowing down my cheeks as relief washes through me, followed by an agonizing sense of loss.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Anya. Please forgive me,” he begs, his hand reaching up to cup my cheek as he wipes away my tears with the pad of his thumb. “I’ve hurt you in so many ways over such a long time, and if I could, I would take each of them back to heal the pain I’ve caused you.” Nicolo’s eyes implore me, silently pleading for me to forgive him.
But I’m crying so hard, I can’t manage to get the words out. My sobs burst from me so forcefully, I feel as though I can’t breathe. Sucking in the air with each shuddering breath, I try to calm myself, but I can’t.
Nicolo pulls me into his arms, tucking my head beneath his chin as he envelops me in his strong embrace. “I’ve been monstrous to you. And I understand if you can never forgive me. But I’m begging you, Anya. Give me another chance. I’ve changed.You’vechanged me, and I want to be someone who deserves your love. I was wrong to treat you the way I have, and you were right to be scared of telling me about our daughter. This is all my fault.”
Nicolo’s fingers comb through my hair as he soothes me, murmuring a never-ending stream of apologies and assurances that only seem to make me cry harder. Because I’ve already forgiven him. The moment he said he was sorry, I knew I would. The hours of thinking I’d lost Nicolo, that I’d done something to ruin our chances of being together, had shown me just how lost and empty I would be without him. Only my fear of losing my daughter could diminish the pain of losing Nicolo. And once he assured me that he wasn’t here to take her away, all those devastating feelings of loss had come crashing down upon me at once.
Finally, after agonizing minutes of being unable to speak or breathe, I manage to calm myself down enough to stem my torrent of tears. I force deep, shuddering breaths into my lungs to steady myself. Then I pull away from Nicolo.
I can see the hope leave his eyes as he lets me go willingly. His hands slide from my shoulders, his fingers tightening almost reflexively around my arms before he forces himself to let me go.
“Please, Anya.” His words are barely above a whisper as the fight seems to leave him all at once, hunching his shoulders in a sign of defeat. “I would do anything to be a part of you and Clara’s life.”
My heart squeezes at the promise behind those words, and I step forward to fling my arms around Nicolo’s neck and kiss him. He freezes, seeming momentarily stunned by my response, and then his hands press against my back, pulling me to him as he holds me close. His lips mold eagerly to mine as he takes my affection as I sign that he’s forgiven.
When we break our kiss, at last, we’re both breathless, and a slow smile spreads across Nicolo’s face as he combs a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
“Does this mean I’m forgiven?” he asks hopefully.
I laugh breathlessly. “Yes, I forgive you. Can you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” he assures me fiercely, his eyes roaming over my face as if to soak up every detail of me. “You did what you thought was best for our daughter, and I couldn’t ask for more than that. God, I love you, Anya.”
My heart swells with joy at those words. “I love you too,” I whisper as fresh tears sting my eyes.
Nicolo brushes a soft kiss across my lips before pressing his forehead to mine.
“Can I meet my little girl? Properly this time?” he asks gently.
A wide smile splits my face. “Yes, of course.” I pull Nicolo the rest of the way into my aunt’s apartment and close the door behind him. “Clara, Aunt Patritsyia, will you come out, please?” I call.
After a moment’s hesitation, Clara’s door opens, and my aunt peeks her head out to see if everything is alright. I give her a reassuring nod. Leading Clara out by the hand, my aunt meets us halfway as I usher Nicolo closer.
Clara hides shyly behind her auntie’s skirt as she looks up at Nicolo, confusion in her eyes. Nicolo kneels down to her level and gives her a soft, comforting smile.
“Hello again, Clara. Do you remember me?”
“You’re the man from the park.”
“That’s right,” he says encouragingly, and that bolsters Clara’s confidence enough for her to step out from behind her auntie.
“Clara,” I say, kneeling as well and taking my daughter’s hands.
She steps close to me, seeking comfort from her mom, and I wrap an arm around her waist, hugging her to me.
“Clara, this man is your father,” I say gently. “He and I made you together, and he wanted to meet you.”
