“Will you ever forgive me?”
Chloe’s expression softened, but she did not step forward.
“I don’t know. Forgiveness isn’t something I can promise you just because you ask for it.”
Elena nodded.
“And I won’t ask you to.”
For a moment, I thought she might finally say something that mattered.
Then she turned to me.
“David, I’m sorry.”
I had imagined hearing those words for years.
In my imagination, I would feel relief. Perhaps even peace.
Instead, I felt tired.
Not angry.
Not triumphant.
Just tired of carrying a story that had never been mine alone to carry.
“I hope you learn from what happened,” I said.
She looked at the girls.
“I hope you’ll let me get to know you.”
Stella answered first.
“You can ask. But you don’t get to decide how quickly we trust you.”
Charlotte nodded.
“And you don’t get to treat us like strangers when it’s convenient, then expect us to act like a family when you need one.”
