Chapter 9
When Sunny was learning to walk, Daniel was released from prison. He had beaten Cara so badly that her uterus was damaged, leaving her unable to become a mother. Cara’s family sued Daniel, and he was imprisoned for it.
While he was in prison, Daniel sent messages through others, asking
to meet me.
I refused.
7
There was no need. We had shared a part of life’s journey, but in the end, we were meant to walk a different path. Continuing any kind of entanglement would have been pointless.
But I didn’t expect the first thing he would do after his release was to
looking for us.
come
I watched him from behind the garden foliage. He was much thinner and looked older, the weight of prison showing in the lines on his face. His eyes, filled with tears, were locked on Sunny.
My daughter, sensing something was wrong, hid behind me.
“Mommy, who is that?” she whispered, looking up at me.
I hadn’t planned on keeping the truth from her. I was about to tell her it was her father when Daniel interrupted, his voice soft and
awkward.
He smiled nervously, rubbing his hands together. “Little Sunny, I’m your mom’s old college friend. You can call me Uncle Danny.”
At that moment, I realized the once–arrogant Daniel was gone. He had learned fear. He was afraid that this little girl might find out she had a father who’d been in prison.
Slowly, he crouched down and asked cautiously, “Sunny, can Uncle give you a hug?”
My daughter looked up at me for reassurance. I nodded, encouraging
her.
Sunny stepped forward hesitantly, and Daniel immediately scooped
Chapter 9
her
up into his arms. He buried his face on her tiny shoulder and started sobbing. Scared, Sunny began to cry and wriggle, trying to
break free.
I quickly took her back from him and asked my mom to take her inside for a while. Once they left, Daniel wiped his face, his expression filled with shame.
“It might not mean much now, but I still need to say it. I’m sorry, Olivia,” he said, his voice shaky. “I’m the one who ruined what could’ve been a happy family.”
He rubbed his hands over his face, his eyes red and puffy. “I deserve everything that’s happened to me. Just don’t ever tell Sunny she has a father like me. I don’t deserve that title.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Though he was only in his thirties, his hunched back made him look much older. I stood there, watching him disappear, feeling neither sadness nor relief. Everyone had to face the consequences of their choices, and Daniel was no different.
“Mommy!” Sunny’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.
I turned and ran toward my little girl, my world now revolving around her.
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