Happily Ever

Gio

They hold each other, both crying as I stand back and watch; providing them the space to become reacquainted. I know how much this means to Fenice, having him back with her after all this time. I know losing him and her mother had taken apart her heart that I could never fill, no matter how hard I tried or how hard I loved her. That was a space only a parent could fill, so I was always afraid that part of her heart would remain hollow. But with him here, I don’t have to worry about that anymore.

“Sweetheart,” her father says, but Fenice doesn’t budge. She keeps holding him as if she is afraid he will disappear if she lets him go.

“Sweetie.”

“I missed you so much.” she finally says through sobs.

“I thought of you every single day. There was never a moment I didn’t think of my sweet little girl. I’m sorry. I should have tried harder. I should have done mo—” He stops when Fenice pulls away.

“It wasn’t your fault, dad. None of it was and none of it matters.” She smiles as tears roll do