جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 110

The way back seemed endless. When Casper turned onto the street of my house, the triplets crouched in the back seat, as if they were sure that something bad could still happen. Jimmy kept his forehead glued to the glass, pretending to watch the street. Jared was not faking anything; he looked at me with glaring eyes, asking for an explanation that I did not have. Jody was still glued to my coat, the small body trembling.As soon as we parked, I stood still for a few seconds, as if I could not unlock my hands from the steering wheel. Casper was the first to move. He opened the door, turned around, and pulled Jared out. He didn’t ask permission. Likewise, he just did it. As if he were trying to make up for lost time."Come on," he said firmly, reaching out to Jimmy.Jared clung to his father without hesitation, his face still marked with tears. Jimmy, slower, eventually gave in but did not let go of Casper’s suspicious look until he got close. Jody was still with me, and I carried her t

I woke up to the soft sound of their breath. All three. Jared was curled up against the arm of the couch, Jimmy on the floor next to him with a makeshift blanket, and Jody clinging to the pillow that she probably brought from her room. Naomi’s house was never so quiet for me. I hadn't remembered a silence like that since before everything fell apart. Now, every little sound seemed louder, more definite.I stood up slowly, feeling the weight of my body complain, especially the cut on my forehead, still throbbing. I did not want to wake them. For a moment, I just stood there, watching my children sleeping. The truth was simple: I had lost years. Years in which I was not present, in which Naomi alone carried everything that we should have shared. Years in which they grew up without me.I took a deep breath. I couldn’t change the past, but I could decide what I would do from now on.Naomi appeared in the corridor, her hair stuck anyway, tired eyes. She looked at me without saying anything

The doorbell rang at regular intervals that morning, the smell of fresh coffee spreading through the hall. I had already gotten used to the routine, the noise of the espresso machine, and the repetitive requests from customers who came daily. The cafeteria was my refuge, the place where I could still pretend to have control over something. But no matter how much I buried myself in work, the image of frightened eyes haunted me. That look of fear and disgust did not leave me alone.I was cleaning the counter when I heard again the rattle of the door. I raised my eyes, ready to greet another regular customer. But my words died in my throat.It was Naomi. And she wasn’t alone.Jared came in first, holding his sister’s hand. Jody came to him, big eyes sweeping the place as if every corner was hostile. Jimmy walked back, almost hidden, hugging the toy cart against his chest. I felt my stomach twitch. They saw me."Good morning," said Naomi in a firm voice, as if trying to impose normality o

The smell hit me first. Strong, unmistakable, as if impregnated in the air just to remind me where I came from. My body reacted before even my mind understood. The heart shot, the skin shivered. I knew. There was only one person able to carry this smell. My father.The phone was still in my hand, but the heat of the connection with Naomi had already disappeared. Now it was only cold. A cold that crossed, as if I had become that boy again."It took you long to realize."The voice sounded behind me. I turned my body slowly, afraid to confirm what I already knew. And there he was. The same rigid posture, broad shoulders covered by a heavy coat, as if the cold of the world was never enough to penetrate it."Father." My voice failed, but I managed to force the word out.He smiled, but there was no humor. "You still call me that. I thought you’d forgotten where you came from.""I didn’t forget." I swallowed dry, trying to control the tremor in my hands. "Just… tried to leave it behind.""Le

The silence that remained after the drunk ran away was suffocating. I was still on my knees, my body throbbing, trying to keep my breath under control. Naomi remained close but did not pull back. Her eyes pierced me, full of conflict."You need to get up," she said finally, in a low voice. "Now."I shook my head without understanding. "Naomi, I-""Get up, Lancelot!" She approached, pulling my arm firmly. "There are people out there."Only then did I realize. The noise of footsteps, murmurs. I turned my face to the door and saw two silhouettes standing on the sidewalk. One of them was with her cell phone raised. Recording. The ice ran through my spine."Damn." I forced the legs to be firm. The body was still heavy, as if the beast inside me insisted on staying. "They saw.""So stop the show," Naomi replied, hard. She stepped forward, closing the door tightly and turning the key. Her breathing was rapid, but not trembling. "You can’t lose control like that.""He touched you." My voice c