Chapter 8 - Learning to Stay
Months passed.
Daniel grew stronger.
He learned to smile.
Then laugh.
Then grip Sebastian’s finger with surprising force.
Sebastian came every week.
Then every few days.
Then every day Rowan allowed.
He learned how to warm bottles, change diapers, wash tiny clothes, and walk slowly through the house at 2:00 in the morning when Daniel would not sleep.
He learned that parenthood was not an emotional speech.
It was exhaustion.
Consistency.
Showing up.
One night, Daniel developed a fever.
Rowan called Sebastian without thinking.
He arrived in twelve minutes.
No driver.
No assistant.
No suit.
Just Sebastian in sweatpants and a coat thrown over a T-shirt.
They sat together in the emergency room while Daniel slept against Rowan’s chest.
“I am scared,” Rowan whispered.
Sebastian looked at her.
“So am I.”
She laughed weakly.
“You used to hate admitting that.”
“I used to hate many things that were true.”
Rowan looked down at Daniel.
“You cannot fix everything.”
“I know.”
“But you can stay.”
Sebastian nodded.
“I will.”
This time, Rowan believed him a little.
Not enough to call it forgiveness.
May you like
Not enough to call it love.
But enough to let him sit beside her in the dark.
