— It no longer has power over us.
Months later, on a quiet afternoon, Gabriel was sitting on the floor of the yellow room making ridiculous faces to coax a laugh from Mateo. Lucía watched him from the doorway.
The man who had once been unable to choose her was there, choosing her every single day.
— Gabriel, — she said softly.
He looked up.
— I forgive you.
His eyes filled with tears.
— I don’t know if I deserve it.
— Maybe not. But I deserve to live without that weight. And Mateo deserves a family that learns to stay.
Gabriel moved toward her slowly. Lucía took his hand.
It was not a perfect ending.
It was something better.
