Chapter 14%
I pressed a hand against my stomach, feeling the faint flutter of life beneath my palm. It still felt surreal. After everything–blood, betrayal, and loss–there was this. A new beginning.
Rafael hovered near the kitchen counter, eyeing me as though I’d collapse at any second. “That’s it. No more coffee,” he said, swiping the cup from my hands.
“Rafael!” I laughed, reaching for it. “It’s decaf.“}
“I don’t care. The baby doesn’t know that.“}
I rolled my eyes but let him have his way. He’d been like this ever since we found out. Overprotective, hovering, and occasionally driving me insane.
“Sit down,” he said, nudging a bowl of fruit toward me. “Eat. Rest. Breathe. Don’t move too much.“}
“Rafael, I’m pregnant, not broken.” I popped a grape into my mouth to pacify him. “You’re worse than the doctor.“}]
“You’ll thank me later,” he said, placing a hand on my stomach. His touch softened, and his voice dropped. “I just want everything to be perfect.”
I placed my hand over his. “It already is.”
For once, there was no gunfire, no screams, no shadows lurking in the corners. Just the two of us in our quiet home, building something new. The mansion felt warmer now, no longer a fortress, but a haven.
“Breathe, Sofia. Just breathe.”
I glared at Rafael, sweat slicking my forehead. “If you say that one more time-“}
The contraction hit, cutting off my words. Rafael’s grip tightened on my hand as I cried out.
“You’re doing amazing,” he said, brushing damp hair away from my face. “Just a little more.“}
“Easy for you to say,” I snapped.
Hours blurred. The doctor’s voice faded in and out, but Rafael never left my side.
And then I heard it.
A cry. Sharp and loud.
Tears welled in my eyes as the nurse placed the tiny, wriggling baby in my arms. “She’s perfect,” I whispered.
Rafael leaned down, pressing his lips against my forehead before brushing a kiss over the baby’s head. “You both are.“}
He cupped my face, his eyes soft in a way I rarely saw. “You did it, Sofia.“}]
“We did it,” I corrected, holding our daughter closer.
Days turned into weeks, and I found myself in a haze of sleepless nights and early mornings. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Rafael was obsessed. From the moment our daughter opened her eyes, he became a different man–softer, more patient, but still hilariously paranoid.
“Is the crib too close to the window?” he asked, pacing the nursery. “What about the blankets? Are they too thick? Should we get another set just in case?”
I laughed from the rocking chair, cradling the baby. “Rafael, she’s asleep. Relax.”
He stopped, turning toward me with wide eyes. “But what if-”
“She’s fine.” I reached out, tugging him closer until he knelt beside us. “Look at her.“}
He did. And just like that, the tension melted from his shoulders.”
“She’s beautiful,” he whispered.
“She has your eyes,” I said, brushing my fingers over the baby’s soft cheek.
Months passed, and our home filled with laughter. Rafael learned how to change diapers–after plenty of protests–and even mastered rocking her to sleep.
“You’re a natural,” I teased one night as he swayed back and forth, the baby nestled in his arms.
“Don’t get used to it,” he said, though the grin on his face told me otherwise.}
We danced in the living room, music playing softly in the background. It was moments like these that made everything worth it.
One evening, as the baby slept, Rafael and I sat by the fire. He poured us each a glass of wine–sparkling juice for me–and raised his glass
“To family,” he said.
I clinked my glass against his. “To family.”
The fire crackled, casting warm light across the room. Rafael reached for my hand, his thumb brushing against my wedding ring.
“Do you ever think about it?” I asked.
He didn’t pretend not to know what I meant. “Sometimes.”
“It feels like another life,” I said, leaning against his shoulder. “Like it happened to someone else.”
“But it didn’t,” he said. “It happened to us. And we survived it.”
11:54 AM …
He didn’t pretend not to know what I meant. “Sometimes.“}
“It feels like another life,” I said, leaning against his shoulder. “Like it happened to someone else.“}
“But it didn’t,” he said. “It happened to us. And we survived it.”
I looked at him, my heart full. “We did.“}
We sat there in silence, the weight of the past fading into the shadows as the future stretched before us. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly free.
Rafael’s fingers intertwined with mine. “Whatever comes next,” he said, “we face it together.”
I smiled, pressing a kiss to his lips. “Always.“}
