I open the door.
I don’t know why.
Maybe because I’m tired of running.
Maybe because I want answers.
Maybe because, after three years, I need to see him.
He’s standing on my porch.
Alexander Albert.
The boy who broke my heart.
The man who denied our child.
He looks older.
Colder.
His gray eyes are tired, and there are lines around his mouth that weren’t there before.
He’s wearing a suit, of course he is and he looks like he hasn’t slept in days.
“Lily.”
His voice.
God, his voice.
It’s the same.
It’s the voice I hear in my dreams.
It’s the voice I’ve tried so hard to forget.
“What are you doing here?”
“I know about Sophie.”
My blood runs cold.
“How?”
“My mother. This story is hosted at novelping.com.
She…
she found out.
And she told me.”
“Your mother.” I laugh, a bitter, broken laugh.
“Of course.
Your mother.”
“Lily, please.
I just want to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“There’s everything to talk about.
I have a daughter.
I have a daughter I’ve never met.”
“You denied her.” The words come out before I can stop them.
“You denied her before she was even born.
You told me she wasn’t yours.”
He flinches.
“I know.
I know what I did.
And I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” I’m shaking now.
You destroyed me, Alexander.
You destroyed us.
And now you show up on my doorstep and say you’re sorry?”
“I know.
I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness.
I know I don’t deserve anything.
But I need to see her.
I need to meet my daughter.”
“No.”
“Lily…”
“No.
You don’t get to do this.
You don’t get to waltz back into our lives like nothing happened.
You don’t get to be her father.
You gave up that right three years ago.”
I slam the door in his face.
But I can’t stop shaking.
I can’t stop crying.
And I know that this isn’t over.
I lean against the door, my heart pounding.
And then I hear Sophie’s voice: “Mommy?
Who was that?”