Chapter 9 - Elena’s Last Fear
Roman asked Elena to meet him at the hospital where Marco had been born.
She almost refused.
But something in his voice made her go.
They stood outside the maternity wing.
Roman looked different now.
Older.
Quieter.
Less certain that money could fix everything.
“I came here every year,” he said. “On Marco’s birthday.”
Elena looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because this is where I became the worst version of myself.”
He took out a small box.
Elena immediately stepped back.
“Roman—”
“It is not a ring.”
Inside was a silver bracelet with three tiny charms.
A heart.
A wave.
A kite.
“For you,” he said. “Not because I expect anything. I just wanted you to know that I remember every day I failed you.”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“I loved you,” she whispered. “For so long.”
“I know.”
“And you destroyed that love.”
“I know.”
She looked at him for a long time.
Then she said, “I cannot go back to who we were.”
Roman nodded.
May you like
“I would never ask you to.”
“But maybe,” Elena said softly, “we can become something better.”
