✦ CHAPTER — "Somewhere Else." ✦
Jay's POV
It was one of those days where everything felt… slightly off.
Not loudly wrong.
Just quietly heavy.
---
Keifer had been working since morning.
Phone calls.
Paperwork.
Men coming in and out of the study.
And Alina had been extra clingy all day.
---
"Mama."
"Up."
"Carry."
"Don't go."
---
I didn't mind.
I never did.
---
But by evening, I could feel the tension in the air.
Keifer hadn't really looked up in hours.
Alina was whining more than usual.
And I was… just trying to keep everything calm.
---
I walked into the study softly with a glass of water.
"Keifer, you should eat something—"
---
He didn't look up.
"I'm busy."
Simple.
Sharp.
---
I blinked.
"…okay."
---
I placed the glass on the table carefully.
Alina was already clinging to my leg behind me.
"Mama stay."
I smiled softly and crouched down.
"I'm just here for a second, baby."
---
That's when Keifer finally spoke again.
Still not looking at me.
«"Can you take her somewhere else for a bit?"
"I can't focus like this."»
---
Silence.
---
It wasn't even loud.
It wasn't even angry.
Just tired.
Practical.
Normal.
---
But it landed differently in my chest.
---
I nodded slowly.
"…okay."
---
Alina immediately tightened her grip on me.
"No mama."
I lifted her gently.
"It's okay, princess. Papa is working."
---
Keifer finally glanced up for a second.
Just a second.
Then went back to his work.
---
I turned away quietly and walked out.
---
And the door closed behind me.
---
✦ LATER ✦
The house got louder again after that.
Alina was running around.
The men were talking outside.
Some laughter from downstairs.
Everything felt normal again.
But not for me.
---
I sat on the couch, holding Alina on my lap.
She was talking softly, playing with my fingers.
Happy again.
Like nothing happened.
---
Then she suddenly looked up.
Small voice.
Innocent.
---
«"Mama sad?"»
---
I blinked.
"No, baby."
I smiled.
"I'm fine."
---
She tilted her head.
Then said something that made my chest go still.
---
«"Papa said mama can go somewhere else."»
---
Silence.
---
I didn't react at first.
Just stared at her softly.
---
Alina continued playing with my sleeve like it was nothing.
Like she was just repeating words she heard.
---
«"Papa said mama not helping."»
A small pause.
Then:
«"Mama always here… so papa angry."»
---
My fingers stopped moving.
---
Not because she meant harm.
She didn't.
She was just a child.
Repeating.
Not understanding.
---
But my heart still tightened quietly.
---
I pulled her a little closer.
"It's okay, sweetheart."
I kissed her forehead gently.
"Mama understands."
---
She hugged me instantly like she always did.
And I smiled again.
Like I always did.
---
But my eyes stayed a little unfocused after that.
---
✦ KEIFER ✦
Later that night, I didn't go into the study again.
I just stayed in the bedroom quietly.
Putting Alina to sleep slowly.
Rocking her gently until her breathing evened out.
---
Everything felt… slower.
Quieter.
---
When I finally came out of the room—
he was there.
---
Keifer.
Standing by the hallway.
Silent.
Watching me.
---
I didn't stop walking.
Just adjusted the blanket in my arms and walked past him slightly.
---
He didn't speak immediately.
That was unusual.
---
Then softly—
«"Jay."»
---
I paused.
But didn't turn fully.
---
A silence stretched.
Heavy in a different way now.
---
Then his voice dropped lower.
«"We need to talk."»
---
Alina shifted slightly in my arms.
I held her closer.
Still quiet.
Still calm.
---
And finally—
I nodded once.
"…okay."
---
But I didn't look at him yet.
Not fully.
Not yet. :::
✦ CHAPTER — "I Didn't Mean It." ✦
Jay's POV
The house felt different that night.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
Just… careful.
Like something fragile had appeared between us.
---
I stayed in the bedroom with Alina for a long time after she fell asleep.
Just holding her.
Listening to her tiny breaths.
Trying not to think too much.
---
Eventually, I laid her down gently in her crib.
She didn't wake.
That was good.
I stayed a second longer than needed, fixing her blanket even though it was already fine.
Anything to delay walking out.
---
When I finally stepped into the hallway—
he was still there.
Keifer.
Leaning slightly against the wall like he had been waiting.
---
He straightened the moment he saw me.
No phone.
No distraction.
Just him.
---
"Jay."
Soft.
Careful.
---
I stopped walking.
Held my hands together lightly.
"…hi."
---
That single word felt strange.
Too small.
Too distant.
---
His eyes flickered slightly at that.
Like he noticed it too.
---
"I need to talk to you," he said again.
This time slower.
More careful than before.
---
I nodded once.
"Okay."
---
We walked into the room together, but not close.
Not like before.
There was space between us.
And it felt louder than any argument.
---
He stood near the edge of the bed.
I stayed closer to the dresser.
---
Silence.
---
Then finally—
«"About earlier."»
---
I didn't respond.
Just waited.
---
His jaw tightened slightly.
Not angry.
Just guilty.
---
"I shouldn't have said that."
A pause.
«"You didn't deserve it."»
---
My fingers tightened slightly on the edge of my sleeve.
But I nodded anyway.
"…it's okay."
---
It came out automatically.
Soft.
Polite.
Safe.
---
But it didn't sound like me.
Even I noticed that.
---
He did too.
---
Keifer stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like he was afraid I'd move away.
---
"You don't sound okay," he said quietly.
---
I forced a small smile.
"I'm fine. Really."
---
Silence again.
---
Then his voice lowered.
«"You're not looking at me."»
---
That made something in my chest tighten.
---
I finally looked up.
For a second.
Then away again.
---
Not because I was angry.
Not because I hated him.
Just…
because it still hurt.
A little.
Even if I didn't want it to.
---
He saw it immediately.
---
His expression changed.
Subtle.
But sharp.
Like something inside him cracked quietly.
---
"Jay…"
---
I shook my head quickly.
"It's okay. I understand. You were stressed."
I paused.
Then added softly:
"…I get it."
---
That sentence.
That one sentence.
---
It hit him harder than anything else.
---
His hands slowly curled into fists at his sides.
Then relaxed again.
Like he didn't know what to do with himself.
---
"I didn't mean it like that," he said quietly.
"I just… I was overwhelmed."
---
I nodded again.
Still soft.
Still careful.
"…I know."
---
But there was distance now.
Not physical.
Emotional.
Small.
Quiet.
But there.
---
And that's what made his voice break slightly when he spoke next.
«"But I still hurt you."»
---
I didn't answer immediately.
Because I didn't want to lie.
---
Finally—
"I'm okay," I said again.
But softer this time.
Less convincing.
---
He stepped closer.
This time I didn't step back.
But I didn't move toward him either.
---
That hurt him more.
I could see it.
---
His voice dropped.
«"Jay… look at me."»
---
I did.
For a moment.
Just a moment.
---
And I think that was worse.
Because he saw everything.
Not anger.
Not drama.
Just quiet hurt I was trying very hard to hide.
---
His breathing changed.
Slow.
Heavy.
---
"I hate this," he said quietly.
---
I blinked.
"…what?"
---
"This," he gestured slightly between us.
"The distance."
---
Silence.
---
My throat tightened a little.
"I don't want to fight," I said softly.
"I just… don't feel the same right now."
---
That was honest.
And it landed exactly how I didn't expect.
---
His eyes softened instantly.
But it hurt him.
Badly.
---
"Jay…"
His voice turned lower.
Almost broken.
«"Come here."»
---
I hesitated.
Just a second.
---
Then I walked closer slowly.
Not rushing.
Not like before.
Just… careful.
---
When I stopped in front of him, he didn't touch me immediately.
He just looked at me.
Like he was asking permission.
---
Then quietly—
he pulled me into his arms.
Not tight at first.
Just gentle.
Testing.
---
I didn't resist.
But I didn't fully melt into him either.
---
That was enough to make him close his eyes.
Like it hurt more than rejection.
---
"I'm sorry," he whispered into my hair.
«"I'm really sorry."»
---
I nodded slightly against his chest.
"…I know."
---
A pause.
Then softer:
«"I'm still here."»
---
But my voice wasn't fully warm yet.
Not like before.
Not fully healed.
---
And he felt that too.
---
His arms tightened slightly around me.
Not possessive.
Just scared.
---
Because now he understood something clearly.
---
You can say sorry.
And still not fix everything instantly.
---
And that realization—
made him hold me a little closer.
Like he was afraid I might drift further if he didn't. :::
✦ CHAPTER — "Don't Leave Like That." ✦
KEIFER'S POV
I was on a call.
Something serious.
Something I couldn't drop.
---
Jay was nearby.
Alina was in her arms.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
---
I should've looked closer.
I should've noticed.
---
Because I heard her voice first.
Soft.
Tired.
---
"Alina… let go a bit…"
---
Then silence.
---
I turned slightly.
Still on the call.
Still distracted.
---
And that's when I saw it.
---
Jay swayed.
Just slightly.
Like her body forgot how to hold itself up properly.
---
My entire world stopped.
---
"Jay?"
---
The phone slipped from my hand.
I didn't even realize it fell.
---
I ran.
Before I even thought.
Before I even breathed.
---
Alina was already slipping from her arms.
She placed her on the ground carefully—
too carefully—
like she was trying not to make noise.
---
Then she held her head.
Just for a second.
Like she was trying to steady herself.
---
And then—
she collapsed.
---
"JAY!"
---
I caught her before she hit the floor fully.
My hands were shaking immediately.
No.
No no no.
---
"Jay, wake up."
My voice broke instantly.
"Please."
---
Alina was crying already.
"Mama!"
She grabbed her dress, shaking her.
"Mama wake!"
---
I couldn't even think properly.
I just held Jay tighter.
And kept calling her name.
Again and again.
Like she would come back just because I needed her to.
---
I called the doctor.
Hands trembling.
Still holding her.
Still refusing to let go.
---
Alina was screaming now.
Not loudly.
Just… broken crying.
"Mama… mama…"
---
I don't know how I survived those minutes.
---
The doctor arrived.
Checked her.
Spoke.
Words I barely understood at first.
---
Then—
«"She's exhausted."
"Severely dehydrated."
"She hasn't been eating properly."
"And she's been taking sleeping medication."»
---
Sleeping pills.
---
My blood went cold.
---
"Sleeping… pills?"
My voice came out empty.
---
The doctor nodded.
«"Stress and lack of care for herself caused the fainting."»
---
Everything after that felt distant.
Like I was underwater.
---
Doctor left.
Alina was still crying.
Jay was still unconscious in my arms.
And I—
I couldn't breathe properly.
---
I lowered myself to the floor slowly.
Still holding her.
Still refusing to let go.
---
My voice came out broken.
"I'm sorry."
---
"I'm so sorry."
---
"I didn't see it."
---
My hand shook as I touched her face.
Cold.
Too quiet.
---
"I should've noticed."
---
"I should've been there."
---
My chest hurt.
Real pain.
Not metaphorical.
---
Then Alina climbed into me.
Still crying.
Small hands on my shirt.
---
And I broke.
---
For the first time in my life—
I cried in front of my daughter.
---
"I'm sorry," I whispered again.
"I'm sorry, baby."
---
She hugged me tightly.
Not understanding everything.
Just feeling it.
---
Both of us cried there.
Holding each other.
While Jay lay still.
---
And I kept thinking only one thing:
«Don't leave.
Don't leave.
Don't leave.»
---
✦ JAY'S POV ✦
It felt like floating.
Heavy floating.
---
Then slowly—
noise came back.
---
A voice.
Crying.
Two voices.
---
I forced my eyes open.
Everything was blurry.
---
The first thing I saw was Keifer.
Kneeling.
Head down.
Shoulders shaking.
---
And Alina beside him.
Holding his shirt.
Crying softly.
---
My heart twisted instantly.
"…Keifer?"
---
His head snapped up immediately.
Like he didn't believe it.
---
"Jay…"
His voice broke instantly.
---
And before I could even fully sit up—
he pulled me into his arms.
Tightly.
Like he was afraid I'd disappear again.
---
"You scared me," he whispered.
His voice cracked.
"Don't do that again."
---
I blinked slowly.
My body felt weak.
---
"…I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I didn't mean to—"
---
"No."
He cut me off immediately.
Still holding me.
Tighter.
---
"Don't apologize."
His voice shook.
"I'm the one who should be sorry."
---
Alina suddenly climbed onto my lap.
Crying again.
"Mama… no go…"
---
My heart shattered.
---
I wrapped my arms around her instantly.
"I'm here."
Soft.
Weak.
But here.
---
She hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe.
But I didn't stop her.
---
Keifer stayed close.
Forehead almost touching mine.
Eyes red.
Still shaking slightly.
---
"I thought I lost you," he whispered.
---
That sentence hit harder than anything.
---
I shook my head slightly.
"I'm not going anywhere."
---
Silence.
---
Then his hands cupped my face gently.
Carefully.
Like I was something fragile.
---
"Promise me," he said quietly.
---
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…I promise."
---
And that's when he finally broke fully again.
Pulling me into him.
Hugging me like he was holding onto life itself.
---
Alina joined in between us.
Small arms around both of us.
Crying softer now.
Safer now.
---
And for the first time in days—
I felt something warm again.
Not perfect.
But real.
We were still here.
✦ CHAPTER — "Stay Here." ✦
Jay's POV
After everything that happened…
no one really left me alone anymore.
Not even for a second.
---
It started quietly.
I woke up to soft breathing beside me.
Then realized—
Keifer was still there.
Sitting at the edge of the bed.
Watching me.
---
The moment my eyes opened fully—
his hand immediately moved to my forehead.
Checking.
Like a habit now.
---
"You're okay?" he asked softly.
I nodded.
"…yes."
---
He didn't look convinced.
Not even a little.
So he leaned down and kissed my forehead.
Once.
Then again.
Like he needed to make sure I was real.
---
"I'm fine," I said again, a little softer this time.
---
"No," he replied immediately.
"Not until I say so."
---
I sighed weakly.
"…that's not how it works."
But I didn't argue further.
Because honestly…
I didn't have the energy to.
---
✦ THE HOUSE AFTER ✦
Everything changed after that day.
---
No one let me move alone anymore.
- Keifer followed me quietly everywhere
- Alina clung to me like I might disappear again
- the entire house felt… careful
Even the mafia men who usually joked around became serious when I passed by.
Too serious.
Like I was fragile glass.
---
And I hated it a little.
But also… understood it.
---
✦ "TINY NURSE ALINA" ✦
Alina took her job VERY seriously.
---
She:
- brought me water constantly
- pushed food toward me
- touched my forehead like checking temperature 😭💖
- said "mama rest" in her tiny serious voice
But also—
if Keifer did ANY of that too close to me…
---
"Mama mine."
Instantly.
Every time.
---
Keifer would just sigh:
"She's guarding you like a treasure."
---
And Alina would nod proudly:
"Mama treasure."
---
✦ KEIFER'S GUILT PHASE ✦
He didn't say it loudly anymore.
But I could feel it.
---
Every time he thought I wasn't looking:
- his eyes stayed on me
- his expression softened
- his hand reached for me first
And every time I even swayed slightly—
he was there instantly.
---
And the forehead kisses…
they became constant.
- before I ate
- before I slept
- when I sat down
- when I woke up
Like he was grounding himself through it.
---
One night I finally whispered:
"You don't have to keep doing that."
---
He didn't even hesitate.
"I do."
Then softer:
"I almost lost you."
---
✦ MAID RULES (DOCTOR'S ORDERS) ✦
The doctor came again and gave strict instructions.
So now life became:
- forced meals
- water reminders every hour
- no stress
- rest only
---
Keifer took it personally.
Like it was his mission.
---
"I said eat."
"I will."
"No. Now."
---
I stared at him.
"…you're worse than the doctor."
---
He kissed my forehead immediately.
"Good."
---
✦ MAID MEN OVERPROTECTIVE ✦
The mafia men also changed.
---
They:
- stopped teasing me too much
- brought food without jokes
- watched Alina carefully
- called me "little boss" more gently now
Even Jare, somehow, got softer.
---
"You scared the boss," he muttered once.
I rolled my eyes weakly.
"I fainted. I didn't disappear."
---
He still looked worried.
---
✦ NIGHT — THREE OF US AGAIN ✦
At night, things finally slowed.
---
Alina slept on my chest again.
Holding my shirt tightly like she was afraid I'd vanish.
---
Keifer lay beside me.
One arm under me.
One hand holding mine.
---
And every few minutes—
he kissed my forehead.
Like clockwork.
Soft.
Careful.
Relieved.
---
I turned slightly toward him.
"…you're not sleeping."
---
"I am."
He kissed my forehead again.
"I'm just making sure."
---
I exhaled softly.
And for the first time since everything—
I didn't feel alone.
Not anymore.
---
Alina stirred slightly in her sleep.
"Mama…"
I kissed her hair gently.
"I'm here."
---
Keifer's hand tightened slightly around mine.
And he whispered:
"Stay here."
---
And I did. :::
✦ CHAPTER — "You Were Hurting Quietly." ✦
Keifer's POV
The house was finally quiet.
For once.
---
Jay had just managed to put Alina to sleep after nearly an hour of crying.
Again.
---
Ever since the fainting incident—
Alina refused to let her out of sight.
If Jay:
- stood up
- walked away
- disappeared for even one minute
Alina cried instantly.
Like she was terrified it would happen again.
---
And when Jay finally returned—
the tiny traitor ignored her dramatically afterward.
😭💖
---
"Mama bad."
Tiny pout.
Tiny crossed arms.
Tiny tears still on cheeks.
---
Jay only smiled softly despite looking exhausted.
"I just went to the bathroom, baby."
---
"No."
Alina buried herself into Jay's chest immediately again.
"Mama stay."
---
I watched quietly from the doorway.
And guilt hit me all over again.
Because even now—
Jay still looked tired.
Still too pale.
Still forcing soft smiles for everyone.
---
Later that night—
she finally fell asleep beside Alina.
Both curled together peacefully.
---
I should've slept too.
But I couldn't.
---
Something felt wrong.
Still.
---
So quietly—
I started cleaning the bedside drawer near her side.
Just trying distract myself.
---
That's when I found them.
---
The pills.
---
My hand froze instantly.
Sleeping medication.
Almost empty.
---
My chest tightened so fast it physically hurt.
---
Slowly—
I looked toward the bed.
Jay slept peacefully beside Alina.
One arm around her protectively even in sleep.
---
And suddenly all I could think was:
«How long?»
---
How long had she been unable to sleep beside me…
while I never noticed?
---
My hands shook slightly while holding the bottle.
Then I noticed something else tucked beneath it.
A notebook.
---
Her diary.
---
I stared at it for a long time.
I shouldn't read it.
I knew that.
---
But my chest already felt like it was splitting open.
And somehow…
I needed to know how much I missed.
---
So slowly—
I opened it.
---
The first few pages were normal.
Little thoughts.
Memories.
Things about Alina.
Then suddenly—
the writing changed.
Messier.
Sadder.
---
«I'm tired.»
---
My throat tightened instantly.
---
Next page.
---
«I feel like Keifer is slowly forgetting me.»
---
I stopped breathing.
---
Another page.
---
«I miss the clingy him.
I miss when he looked at me first.»
---
Something sharp twisted in my chest.
Because I remembered those days.
Work.
Stress.
Distance.
Thinking she understood.
Thinking she'd always wait.
---
Another page.
---
«I feel lonely even when the house is full.»
---
I closed my eyes for a second.
Just one second.
Because suddenly I couldn't handle reading my own failure in her handwriting.
---
But I kept going.
---
«I can't sleep anymore.
My mind doesn't stop.
I think too much at night.»
---
My grip tightened around the diary.
---
«Sometimes I want him to notice without me asking.
Just once.»
---
I swallowed hard.
Too hard.
---
Another page.
---
«Alina and Keifer love me.
I know they do.
But sometimes I still feel invisible.»
---
That one destroyed me.
Completely.
---
Because she wrote it while still defending us.
Still loving us.
Still trying understand us.
Even while hurting.
---
And I never saw it.
---
I lowered the diary slowly.
My eyes burned painfully.
---
Then I looked toward the bed again.
Jay shifted slightly in sleep.
Still holding Alina close instinctively.
---
And suddenly—
I hated myself.
---
How did I miss this?
How did I let her feel alone beside me?
---
A small sleepy sound interrupted my thoughts.
---
Alina.
---
She woke up slightly and immediately looked around panic rising in her tiny face.
"Mama?"
---
Before I could even move—
Jay sleepily pulled her closer without waking fully.
"I'm here…"
Soft.
Automatic.
Comforting.
---
Alina relaxed instantly.
Then buried herself into Jay again possessively.
---
And something inside me broke quietly.
Because even exhausted…
even hurting…
Jay still gave all of herself to us.
---
While I stood there realizing too late how deeply she had been drowning beside me.
✦ CHAPTER — "Mama Happy Cake" ✦
Keifer's POV
I had handled negotiations.
Business wars.
Dangerous people.
Entire organizations.
Yet somehow...
making a cake was the hardest thing I'd ever done.
---
Especially when my assistant was a one-year-old criminal.
---
Alina stood on a chair beside me.
Covered in flour.
Eating more chocolate chips than she was putting into the bowl.
---
"Princess."
---
She looked up innocently.
Chocolate around her mouth.
---
"Stop eating the ingredients."
---
She blinked.
Then slowly hid another chocolate chip behind her back.
---
I sighed.
---
This was going terribly.
---
Then the kitchen door opened.
---
Jare walked in.
---
He stopped.
Looked at the kitchen.
Looked at me.
Looked at the kitchen again.
---
Silence.
---
"Wow."
---
I already hated that tone.
---
"My sister trusted you."
---
I narrowed my eyes.
---
"Leave."
---
Jare pointed at the bowl.
---
"Is that cake batter or cement?"
---
"Leave."
---
He pointed at the flour covering my shirt.
---
"How are you worse at this than Alina?"
---
Alina gasped dramatically.
---
"I'm helper."
---
"Exactly."
Jare nodded.
"She's carrying the team."
---
I genuinely considered throwing him out.
---
Then Alina proudly pointed at my hand.
---
"Papa burn finger."
---
The traitor.
---
Jare immediately burst out laughing.
---
"You burned yourself too?!"
---
I stared at both of them.
---
Neither stopped laughing.
---
I regretted becoming a father.
And a husband.
And a brother-in-law.
---
Hours later...
the cake was finally finished.
---
Crooked.
Uneven.
Questionable.
---
But Alina smiled proudly.
---
"Mama happy."
---
And somehow...
that was enough.
---
Jay's POV
The mansion was suspiciously quiet.
---
Way too quiet.
---
Which usually meant one thing.
Someone was causing trouble.
---
Most likely my husband.
---
I walked downstairs slowly.
---
Then suddenly—
tiny footsteps.
---
"MAMA!"
---
Alina came running toward me.
Covered in flour.
Absolutely covered.
---
I froze.
---
"...Alina."
---
She grinned proudly.
---
Then grabbed my hand.
---
"Come."
---
I followed her.
Confused.
---
The moment I stepped into the kitchen—
I stopped.
---
My heart immediately softened.
---
Keifer stood there holding a cake.
---
A very crooked cake.
---
Flour covered his shirt.
His hair.
Even his face.
---
And beside him stood Jare.
Taking photos.
---
Of course he was.
---
The second Jare saw me—
he held up his phone.
---
"Look."
---
I blinked.
---
The screen showed:
Keifer covered in flour.
Alina covered in flour.
Mochi somehow covered in flour.
---
Then another photo.
---
Keifer staring angrily at a mixing bowl.
---
Another.
---
Keifer holding his finger after burning it.
---
I immediately laughed.
---
A real laugh.
---
Jare looked proud of himself.
---
"See?"
He pointed at Keifer.
"That's the man you married."
---
"Get out."
Keifer muttered.
---
"No."
---
I laughed harder.
---
And suddenly...
everything felt lighter.
---
Alina pointed proudly at the cake.
---
"Mama happy cake."
---
My chest squeezed painfully.
---
Not because of the cake.
---
Because they made it for me.
---
Because they spent hours doing something they were terrible at...
just to make me smile.
---
My eyes stung slightly.
---
Keifer noticed immediately.
---
His expression softened.
---
For a moment...
it was just us.
---
No jokes.
No teasing.
---
Just him looking at me carefully.
The way he had been looking at me ever since he found the diary.
---
Like he was trying to memorize every smile.
---
"You like it?" he asked quietly.
---
I nodded.
---
"I love it."
---
Even if it was the ugliest cake I'd ever seen.
---
The relief that crossed his face made my heart ache.
---
Then Alina climbed into my lap.
---
"Mama mine."
---
Immediately—
Keifer sat beside me.
Far too close.
---
"My wife."
---
"My mama."
---
"My wife."
---
"My mama."
---
Jare groaned dramatically.
---
"I am surrounded by idiots."
---
I laughed.
Alina laughed.
Even Keifer smiled.
---
And sitting there between my daughter and husband...
holding a crooked cake covered in too much frosting...
I realized something.
---
Maybe healing wasn't one big moment.
Maybe it was this.
---
Tiny moments.
Messy moments.
Flour-covered moments.
---
The moments where people tried.
And loved you enough to keep trying.
🤍