I stare at him.
Three years of anger.
Three years of pain.
Three years of wondering why I wasn’t enough.
And now he’s standing in my living room, apologizing.
I don’t know what to feel.
I don’t know what to say.
“You need to leave,” I whisper.
“I know.” He doesn’t move.
“But I need to know something first.
Does she know about me?”
“No.”
“Does she ask about me?”
“Every day.”
“I want to be in her life, Lily.
I want to be her father.
I know I don’t deserve it.
I know I have no right to ask.
But I’m asking anyway.”
I shake my head.
“You can’t just show up and expect everything to be okay.
You can’t just…”
“Mommy?”
I freeze.
Sophie is awake.
She’s sitting up on the couch, rubbing her eyes.
And she’s looking at Alexander.
“Mommy, who’s that?”
I don’t know what to say.
I don’t know what to do.
I look at Alexander. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
He’s staring at Sophie like she’s the sun.
“Sophie,” I start, “this is…”
But Sophie is already climbing off the couch.
She walks toward Alexander, her small feet padding against the floor.
She stops in front of him and looks up.
“Are you my daddy?”
Alexander kneels down.
His eyes are wet.
“Yes, Sophie.
I’m your daddy.”
Sophie stares at him for a long moment.
And then she smiles, a smile so bright it could light up the whole world and throws her arms around his neck.
“I knew you’d come back.
I wished for you.”