Zarah’s pov
The morning sun pushed itself through the curtains, casting a warm glow which I loved over the kitchen. Elliot sat at the table, his legs swinging excitedly under his chair as he stared at the cereal in front of him, slightly touching it. I knew what his excitent was all about and I was happy that he was happy.
He was too eager to eat, too eager for sothing different. His bright eyes were filled with expectation, and I couldn’t help but smile at the way he was actually bouncing in his seat.
"Mom, when are we going to see Uncle Damon? " he asked, his voice high-pitched with excitent as he reached for the cereal bowl.
I froze, the spoon swimming near my mouth, as the words he’d just said hit harder than I’d expected.
The day my mother had visited I knew that Elliot had listened to our conversation and he had asked who Damon was.
My mouth had felt so dry until I had no. Another option but to lie to him and tell him Damon was his uncle.
It hurt more than anything else that I had lied to my son.
But everything had changed and told mother had given a phone call, spoke to Elliot and I had agreed even though I had talked this out with Michael, and agreed to go and see Damon, after all, one visit wouldn’t hurt.
" I can see that you are so excited, sweetie. We’ll see him soon. "
But that wasn’t the truth. I could feel it in the oit of my stomach — Damon was calling back into his world. And no matter how nurous tis I tried to tell myself I wasn’t ready, it felt like fate itself had other plans.
My mother. Rhoda.
I stood up and walked to the door, my feet slow and heavy, sothing telling that all of this was wrong. When I opened it, I saw her standing there, a soft smile on her lips. She looked calm.
" Zarah, " she said gently, her tone soothing but with an edge that I didn’t miss. " May I co in? "
She said after giving a tight hug.
I nodded, stepping away to let her in. Elliot jumped from his chair, running to hug his grandmother. She laughed happily, bending down to ruffle his hair.
" Hey there, little one, " Rhoda said, her voice full of warmth. " Are you ready to see your Uncle Damon again? "
Elliot’s face lit up. " Yes! I’ve been waiting forever! When can we go? "
"Don’t worry,"
Her smile was more warm now and I smiled back. " I know you’ve been through a lot, sweetie. But it’s ti to stop running from your past. It’s ti to forgive Damon. "
I opened my mouth to protest, but she raised a hand to silence , her expression unwavering.
" Zarah, " she said calmly, " I know you’ve been hurt. We both know how hard he let you down.
For your sake. For Elliot’s. "
Her words pierced through , sharper than I wanted to admit. She was right. I had been carrying this burden for ti, burying my anger, my pain, and my resentnt deep outside. But it didn’t change the fact that Damon had broken my heart.
I couldn’t help but look at Elliot. His face was full of innocence and hope like he even knew what had happened between Damon and . He stared at like understood the heartache, the lies, the reasons I had kept him down.
" I don’t know if I can forgive him, Mom, " I muttered, my voice faltering. " What if he’s the sa man who hurt ? What if. What if he’s not really changed? "
Rhoda stepped closer, her hand gently resting on my shoulder. " Zarah now is not to rember soone’s mistake. It’s about letting go of the anger, the bitterness that holds you back. It’s about giving yourself peace."
I wanted to believe that Damon could be different now. That he was the sa man I had previously loved. That the tis of pain could be wiped down with a single decision.
But there was still a fear deep inside — a pain in my heart that told I was only fooling myself. Could I really face him again? Could I forgive him for the way he’d walked out of my life? Could I pretend like nothing had happened?
Before I could speak, Rhoda was already reaching for the bag at her side, pulling out a small, worn piece of paper. She handed it to without a word.
I took it slowly, feeling the weight of the paper in my hands. It was an old photo, one I hadn’t seen in a long ti. Damon and I are all together. We were happy. I flashed back that day so easily — the sun shining, the air warm with laughter.
But things hadn’t turned out that way.
I stared at the photo for a long ti, my feelings crashing over like a tidal wave. I could hear Elliot laughing in the background, his voice pulling from the past and back to the present.
" I just want things to be normal again, " Mother said, her small voice full of hope. " I miss both of you."
I looked up at Mother, her eyes were teary and she quickly hugged .
"Please, my child, don’t let Elliot grow up without knowing his father."
Sothing kept telling that sothing was off but I pushed it away
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. " I. I should just forgive him and accept him back, " I said still, more to myself than anyone else.
Rhoda’s smile returned, a soft, satisfied curl of her lips." That is all I want, Zarah. I know you’re scared, but you don’t have to carry this alone now. Let go of the past. For you. For Elliot."
Could I really forgive him? Could I really walk into his life again and let him back by, despite everything?
And yet, as I looked at Elliot’s eager face as he played with his LEGOs
my heart softened. Perhaps I had been too harsh. Perhaps it was ti to move forward. To give Damon a chance to prove himself. To love him.
I t Rhoda’s eyes, and for the first ti in a long while, I felt the weight of the decision lift from my shoulders.
" I’ll do it," I said vocally, my voice slightly above a whisper." I’ll go see him. For Elliot."
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