She was never his to own
After years of waiting, years of watching, years of proving—it had become easy.
They stood in the kitchen, morning light around them, coffee warm in their hands. Neither spoke. Neither needed to.
Then, from down the hall, a small voice.
"Mama?"
---
Sofia appeared in the doorway, still in her unicorn pajamas, hair a wild tangle of curls. She was rubbing her eyes, still half-asleep, still looking for her mother.
Then she saw Alexander.
Her face transformed. The sleep fell away, replaced by pure, unbridled joy.