Chapter 22%
I was no longer hiding in the shadows of the life I lost. I was building something new.
A foundation. A future.
In the names of my mother and sister, I poured my soul into it. Women’s shelters. Tech startups for young girls to have a future untouched by the corruption I once knew. Safe houses where those like me–those who had suffered, been silenced–could find refuge.
Every project, every dollar, every step I took was to rewrite a story–a story where I wasn’t just the victim of it all. I was the woman who tumed the tide
And when I sat down with my children, gathered them close in the quiet of our home, I didn’t lie to them. I didn’t shield them from the truth.
“You’ll hear stories about me,” I told them, my voice soft, yet unwavering. “They’ll say I’ve done terrible things. They’ll say I was driven by anger and vengeance. They’ll say I was broken, and that I only became strong because of what I lost.”
I held Lucian’s gaze, my oldest. He had inherited my fire, his eyes full of determination. “But let me tell you the truth. I became strong not because of what I lost. I became strong because I fought back. And I fought for you.”
Lucian’s sharp gaze locked with mine, his little fists clenched in resolve. “We’re not weak, right, Mom?”
“Never,” I answered, ruffling his hair. “You’re born of fire. The same fire I carried when I took my life back from those who tried to take it from me.
Elara, our quiet soul, sat cross–legged next to me. Her wide eyes looked up at me with a sense of understanding that most children her age didn’t have. “Mom?” she whispered, the weight of her words surprising me. “You did it because you wanted us to be free, didn’t you?T I nodded, my voice a soft promise. “For you, Elara, I would burn the world down.”
Caelum, our wild spirit, jumped up, his energy too big to be contained. “Yeah, Mom! You kicked ass!” he said with a grin, his excitement contagious.
I laughed, feeling a mix of pride and affection. “I did, didn’t I?” I leaned in, my hand brushing against Caelum’s messy hair, “But remember, all of you, you don’t have to fight to prove yourself. Just live as who you are–fearless and unbroken. That’s all you need.“}}
Salvatore stepped into the room then, a quiet presence that I always welcomed. He had been my partner through everything. Together, we built this life, and now we had our family–the future that I had fought so hard for
He approached, his lips curling into a knowing smile. “What’s this? The ‘motherly wisdom‘ talk already?”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help but smile at his teasing. Tm not sentimental. I’m just making sure they remember who they are.” Elara looked up at Salvatore with her calm, composed demeanor. “Daddy, are you like a storm too?”
Salvatore squatted down to her level, his hands resting on his knees. He smiled softly at her. “In my own way, yes. But your mom–she’s the storm. The one that makes the thunder roll.”
Lucian nodded gravely, his voice determined. “We’ll be just like her, won’t we?”
I smiled, my heart full of pride for the child who looked so much like me. “You’ll be even better I know it.“I
Salvatore kissed my forehead gently, his touch always grounding me. “We’ll make sure they never forget that,” he murmured, his voice low and full of promise.!!
I looked up at him, my heart calm now that he was here with me. “You and I, we’ve built this together. Everything we are, everything we’ll become, it’s because we’ve had each other.”
His hand slid around my waist, pulling me close, his lips brushing against my ear. “You’ll always have me, Danica. Always.“B
I smiled, my heart light. “I know.”
Later that evening, after the children were tucked into bed, I found myself standing alone in the garden, letting the quiet of the night settle around me. The soft rustle of leaves in the wind, the scent of the flowers, and the moon above–it all felt perfect. Peaceful,
Salvatore came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I leaned into him, feeling his warmth.8
“What are you thinking, amore?” His voice was soft, filled with the love I had come to rely on.!!
I turned in his arms, looking up at him with a smile. “That vengeance tastes sweeter when you have something worth protecting.” Salvatore’s hand gently cupped my face, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “We’ve protected each other, and now we protect them.” He gestured to our triplets, their laughter and joy still echoing in the distance.
I watched them, my heart swelling with love and pride. “We will,” I said softly. They’ll never kneel.“%
Salvatore chuckled, a warm sound that filled the space between us. “I don’t think they ever would. Not with a mother like you.”
I laughed, a deep, genuine sound. “Well, that’s the plan, right? To make sure they never have to. To show them that the only way to live is to rise
As we stood there, our triplets dancing and laughing under the soft glow of the lanterns, I knew, without a doubt, that this was it. This was the life I had fought for, the life I would protect with every breath I had.
Salvatore’s hand found mine, and I squeezed it, feeling the unspoken bond between us. We had come this far, and now, we would continue walking forward–together.
Our children, Lucian, Elara, and Caelum, would know strength. They would know that no matter what the world tried to throw at them, they would never be broken. Not with a mother like me, and not with a father like Salvatore.
12:43 PM ₫ ·
As we stovu mere, vui inipiers unticity did ravyning under the sun youw or ure Tanves, 1 KITEW, WIUNULA UVUDL tai una maa IL HIS MAS the life I had fought for, the life i would protect with every breath I had.!!
Salvatore’s hand found mine, and I squeezed it, feeling the unspoken bond between us
continue walking forward–together.
Web
had come this far, and now, we would
Our children, Lucian, Elara, and Caelum, would know strength. They would know that no matter what the world tried to throw at them, they would never be broken. Not with a mother like me, and not with a father like Salvatore.
The storm wasn’t behind me. It was in front of me. And with it, I would rise, unbroken and free, always.
ENDS
