Sofia took a step back.
Instinctive.
As if my voice were a threat.
That gesture… that damned gesture… pierced me more than any illness.
—Sofia… it’s me —I said, my voice breaking—. Dad.
The baby stirred on her chest, letting out a small whimper.
She held him tighter.
« No… » she whispered. « Don’t come any closer. »
I felt the air disappear.
« What are you doing here? » I asked. « Why are you like this? Where’s Daniel? »
Upon hearing that name… her face changed.
It wasn’t sadness.
It was something worse.
Shame.
And fear.
She looked around, nervous.
The cars began to move slowly.
The traffic light was about to change.
« Go away, » she said softly. « Please… go away. »
« No, » I replied, opening the car door without thinking. « I’m not leaving. »
I left.
The heat hit me hard.
The horns too.
But nothing mattered.
I walked towards her.
« Look at me, » I asked him.
Sofia pursed her lips.
Her eyes were shining… but she wasn’t crying.
Not anymore.
« I told you to leave, » he repeated.
—And I told you no —I replied, more firmly.
A second of silence.
And then…
It broke.
His shoulders slumped.
Her body trembled.
« I didn’t know who else to turn to… » she whispered.
That « I didn’t know »… destroyed me.
« Why didn’t you come with me? » I asked. « Why didn’t you call me? »
Sofia let out a bitter laugh.
—So you could tell me “I warned you”?
I remained silent.
Just because.
Because I did it.
Years back.
When she decided to marry Daniel.
« That man is not right for you, » I told her back then.
« You don’t know him, » she replied.
And he left.
Me too…
I let pride speak louder than love.
« I was wrong, » I said now, my voice breaking. « I shouldn’t have let you go like that. »
Sofia shook her head.
—No… I was wrong.
She looked at the baby.
He stroked it.
—I thought I could change it.
I felt a lump in my throat.
—What did he do to you?
The silence that followed… was heavy.
Too much.
« At first… nothing, » she said. « He was perfect. Attentive. Affectionate. »
Her eyes were lost.
—Then it started with little things. Jealousy. Comments. Control.
I clenched my fists.
—And then…
He didn’t finish the sentence.
But it wasn’t necessary.
« Did he hit you? » I asked, my voice trembling.
She did not answer.
She just looked down.
That was enough.
I felt a rage I had never known.
Dark.
Deep.
« Where is it? » I said.
« No, » he replied quickly. « You’re not going to do anything. »
« She’s my daughter! » I exploded.
The baby moved again.
Sofia calmed him down.
« That’s exactly why, » he said. « I don’t want you getting involved in this. »
I took a deep breath.
Trying not to lose control.
—Why are you in the street?
She took a while to answer.
—Because I left.
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