When Aurora took her first wobbly steps, Gabriel was released from prison.
Because of the brutal beating, Lily had suffered irreparable damage, losing her chance to ever have children. Her family took Gabriel to court.
While in prison, Gabriel tried to reach out, sending word that he wanted to see me. I ignored it. We’d already walked our path, and it had ended. There was no need to drag it on.
I never expected that once Gabriel was free, he’d come straight to me.
I watched him through the bushes. He had lost weight, aged years in what felt like days, but his eyes, they were filled with regret as they stayed fixed on Aurora.
My daughter, sensing something was wrong, hid behind me, nervous.
“Mommy, who is he?” she asked quietly.
I had planned to tell her the truth. But Gabriel cut me off, fumbling for the right words.
“Little Aurora, I’m your mom’s college classmate,” he said, his voice shaky. “You can call me Uncle Gabriel.”
That’s when it hit me, this arrogant, overconfident man was gone.
Now, he was just a shell of himself, afraid of the truth being known. Afraid that his daughter would find out her father was a convict.
Gabriel crouched down slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Aurora, can Uncle give you a hug?”
She glanced up at me, seeking reassurance. I nodded, but the unease in her eyes made my heart ache.
He pulled her close, burying his face in her shoulder, tears spilling down his cheeks. But Aurora, frightened and confused, squirmed in his arms, crying.
I rushed to her, lifting her up and asking my mom to take her inside.
Gabriel wiped his face and, voice shaking, looked me in the eyes. “I… I know I can’t undo the damage. But I’m sorry, Aria. I’m the one who destroyed our family.”
He scrubbed his face with his hand, eyes red and raw.
“I deserve everything that’s come my way. But please… don’t tell her about me. She deserves better. I’m not worthy to be her father.”
With that, he turned and walked away, his shoulders hunched, his head lowered.
I stood there, watching him disappear into the distance, feeling strangely numb. There was no satisfaction, no vindication, just the cold truth that he was paying for his choices.
“Mommy-“
