He was peaceful at the end.
He held my hand in the hospital room.
Emilia was sleeping in Silvia’s arms, while Mikhail stood by the window.
Todor looked at our daughter.
Then at me.
“Look at her,” he whispered. “She is proof that you never know when life will give you another chance.”
“I know.”
“Promise me you won’t be afraid.”
Tears streamed down my face.
“I promise.”
He smiled.
Then he closed his eyes.
After the funeral, we returned home.
The house was quiet.
But it wasn’t lonely.
Emilia ran through the hallway with a little stuffed bear. Silvia made tea. Mikhail fixed a broken cabinet handle without anyone asking him to.
I looked at them.
My children.
The big ones and the little one.
My family wasn’t perfect.
It had been through court, lies, fear, and anger.
But it had survived.
Not the way I once imagined.
