Chapter 8%
“Let me go! Franco!“}
I struggled with all my strength, but I couldn’t break free from his grip.
His burning tears fell onto my back, seeping through the thin fabric of my clothes, sending a violent shiver down my spine.
“Mara… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
Sorry? No matter what he said now, it was already far too late.
My throat ached with bitterness, and tears blurred my voice as I choked out each word, “Franco, please… just let me go. For the sake of our ten years of marriage, for the three children I bore for you… just let me go.“”
His body froze. Then, with a sudden thud, he dropped to his knees.”
One hand clung tightly to mine, while the other began slapping his own face, hard.”
“I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Mara. I’m not even human–I’m a monster. I failed you. I failed our children…”
The dull, harsh sound of palm against cheek echoed again and again.”
I stood there, watching him without emotion. My voice was cold and steady.
“What’s the point now, Franco? Can Alec come back to life? Can those two babies–who haven’t even opened their eyes–come back? You tell me, what good does all this do now?“>
His grip on my hand slowly loosened.”
Like a man drained of all hope, his empty eyes lowered, and his head drooped in silent defeat.
didn’t look back. I turned and walked away.
On the way home, lost in my grief, I accidentally bumped into someone.>>
“Sorry! I wasn’t looking…”
“Mara?” a man’s surprised voice called out, warm and familiar. “Is it really you?”
It was Chester, my high school classmate.
He was holding the hand of a little boy, about four or five years old, who shyly hid behind him.
“This is my son…” Before I could congratulate him, he added, “His mother passed away earlier this year. He doesn’t talk much anymore.“}
A dull ache pressed against my chest. Such a small child… even younger than Alec. He might not even understand that his mother was gone forever.}
“I have an emergency at work right now,” Chester said quickly. “I know it’s sudden, but can I ask a huge favor? Can you watch Gian for a bit?”
His urgency was clear. I crouched and reached out my hand to the little boy. He hesitated, then gently placed his hand in mine.
“Gian, want to go play with Auntie?”
He nodded his round little head, and for a fleeting moment, his sweetness helped ease the pain in my heart.
I took him to the amusement park, and he had such a wonderful time. His innocent laughter stirred something deep in me–it reminded me of Alec.
As time passed, Gian grew more comfortable with me, even letting me hold him in my arms.
When Chester finished his work, he came to meet us, and we had dinner together.
It was the first time in agès I felt a little bit of peace.}
Gian fell asleep on his father’s shoulder on the way home.>
As we walked, Chester turned to me, his voice softer.}
“I heard from Mrs. Walter… that you got divorced.”}
I didn’t avoid the topic. I laid bare my wounds, my grief still fresh.
“I divorced him because he was the reason why all three of my children died. I can never forgive that.”
“Mara… you’ve been through so much.” He paused, as if weighing his words. “I know this might sound out of the blue, but I have to ask…?
He took a deep breath, then looked me in the eye.}
“Back then… did you ever like me?“>
I stared at him, caught completely off guard.”
There had been a flutter of young affection, yes. But so many years had passed. Time had worn all those feelings smoothly.
“I tried to find you after we started university,” he added. “But by then, you were already in a relationship.”
Even after I returned home, his words echoed in my mind.
That night, I found myself remembering everything he’d told me–stories from ten years ago that I’d never heard of until now.
