« Papa? »
Part 2 – The Child Who Didn’t Remember His Father
For several long seconds, no one moved.
The rain continued to fall, tapping softly against the porch roof while the silence between Alessandro and Elena grew almost unbearable.
Mateo peeked shyly from behind his mother’s leg, clutching his faded gray elephant so tightly that its fabric ears bent beneath his tiny fingers.
He looked at Alessandro with cautious curiosity.
Not recognition.
Curiosity.
It broke Alessandro’s heart.
« Mateo… » he whispered.
His voice trembled.
The little boy tilted his head.
« Mama… who is he? »
Elena closed her eyes.
That simple question struck harder than any bullet ever had.
She knelt beside her son and gently brushed a curl away from his forehead.
« This is someone who loves you very much. »
Mateo studied Alessandro again.
« Do I know him? »
Elena couldn’t answer.
Not immediately.
Instead, she looked toward Rosa, who silently took Emma by the hand.
