Chapter 6 - The Truth Marco Heard
Children hear more than adults think.
Marco heard students whispering at school.
He heard someone call Roman a criminal.
He heard someone say Roman abandoned him.
That night, he asked Elena directly.
“Did Roman leave us?”
Elena looked at Roman, who had come by to help repair a broken window.
Roman nodded at her.
Tell him.
So she did.
She told Marco the truth gently.
Roman had not been there when he was born.
Roman had hurt her.
Roman had made choices that broke their family.
Marco’s eyes filled with tears.
Then he looked at Roman.
“Why?”
Roman knelt in front of him.
“Because I was selfish,” he said. “I thought being important meant everyone had to wait for me. I was wrong.”
“Did you love me?”
Roman’s voice cracked.
“I loved you before I met you. But I did not act like it. And love without action is not enough.”
Marco wiped his face.
“I don’t know if I forgive you.”
Roman nodded.
“You don’t have to.”
“But I want to.”
That was not forgiveness.
May you like
Not yet.
But it was hope.
