[Lucy]
After the heavy heart-to-heart, the air between us felt a little lighter. With Sophie’s playful giggles echoing across the park, I found myself caught up in her infectious joy.
“Are you ready to play tag?” I asked, smiling down at her as she bounced on her feet, brimming with excitement.
“Yay!” she squealed, clapping her hands together. “You can’t catch me!”
“I can try!” I called out, springing to my feet and chasing after her. The moment I bolted, Sophie squealed and took off, her yellow dress swirling around her as she dashed through the grass, her laughter ringing like bells.
Dad watched from the sidelines, a proud smile plastered across his face as he cheered us on. I could see how much Sophie adored him, and it made my heart ache a little more. Here they were, creating a bond without the shadows of what had come before.
As I chased Sophie, I felt a rush of warmth, momentarily forgetting everything else. For those blissful minutes, the laughter and squeals created
