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Paul, can you see me?
After a few days,
“Paulina, hurry up and eat or you’ll be late, honey,” Elena called out from the kitchen.
“Yes, mom. I’m finished. Daddy?” Paulina responded.
Derek entered the dining area, ready for the day.
“Yes, honey, I’m finished. Let’s go,” he said.
“Love, I will go to the office later. I have a meeting to attend with Mrs. Lina,” Elena informed Derek.
Derek, who was occupied with some paperwork, looked up and responded, “It’s okay, love. Come whenever you want.”
Elena smiled at Derek’s understanding.
Before heading out, Paulina and Derek shared affectionate moments with Elena, who received kisses from both of them.
At the school gate, Derek dropped Paulina off, offering some parental advice. “Don’t go anywhere after school, sweetie. I’ll be there to pick you up,” he instructed.
“OK, daddy,” Paulina affirmed, understanding the routine.
“And if a stranger offers you anything to eat, don’t accept it,” Derek cautioned, emphasizing the importance of safety. Paulina gave him a kiss on the cheek, expressing her compliance with a nod.
As Derek walked away after ensuring Paulina’s safety, she was about to enter the school when her attention was captured by a familiar voice.
“Paulina.”
Paulina, turning back, spotted a tall man.
“Who?” she said, her expression befuddled. The man gave her a friendly smile.
After a brief pause, Paulina grinned and asked, “Pavlos?”
“Yes, honey, I’m your Pavlos,” the man said as he knelt down.
Paulina, with a smile, replied, “You are very handsome, like my papa.”
“Really,” the man said, stroking Paulina’s cheek.
“Didn’t you say I should come to you? I’ve come to meet you.”
Paulina gave a warm grin. When he saw her grin, he couldn’t take it any longer and hugged her firmly.All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.
“I’ve missed you so much, honey,” he said as tears welled up in his eyes.
“Will you go out with me?” he asked with a smile.
Paulina looked back at the school gate and murmured, “But daddy said not to miss classes, and we only talked over the phone. We’ve never met before. Will it be ok if I go with you?”
Paul smiled and tilted his head.
“I’ll call your daddy, don’t worry. He knows you are so precious to me.”
Paulina pressed her lips and said, “Umm…”
Paul put his hand on her head and uttered, “Let’s go somewhere, love. You don’t have to attend class, and I will drop you on time.”
Paulina nodded slightly, and with an unknown power, she grabbed his fingers. Paul took her hands, and they went toward the car.
Paul’s POV.
I finally see my daughter. My beautiful daughter! I am not sorry, Derek, because I have the right to see and touch what is mine.
I took Paulina with me, skillfully managing her school activities so that Derek wouldn’t suspect anything. I had to seize every opportunity to spend time with my daughter.
After a while, Paulina shouted with joy, “Look, Pavlos, that lion is staring at me. I’m afraid.”
I laughed and took her in my arms, “Your Pavlos is on his way. No one will hurt my baby,” I assured her.
“You just talk like my daddy,” Paulina replied, smiling.
I gave her a friendly smile and stroked her hair. “Let’s go, honey. Remember what I told you?” I asked.
She said, “Yes, I can tell Dad, but not Mom.”
I kissed her on the cheek and drew her close to my chest. It was hard for me to hold back my tears. I didn’t want to leave you, Paulina. And I’ll tell you everything when you’re old enough to understand.
We arrived at Derek’s house.
“Baby,” I said, as I kissed her hand.
“Bye, Pavlos; we’ll talk later tonight. Don’t forget to give me a call,” she reminded me. I nodded in agreement. Paulina hugged me tightly as she got out of the car. Before entering her house, she turned back to say goodbye to me. I waved with a heavy heart, unable to hold back my tears.
**
Elena’s POV.
After the meeting, I felt a sense of restlessness that had lingered since the morning. The fatigue in my bones prompted me to glance out through the car window.
“Ma’am, we’re here,” the driver announced, bringing me back to the present. I looked outside and realized we were near a park. A sudden urge hit me, and I instructed the driver to take his time.
The park held a special place in my heart, a refuge where I sought solace in moments of longing for him. As I stepped out of the car, I took a deep breath, absorbing the tranquility of the surroundings. I strolled along the riverside, finding a spot to sit and gaze at the flowing river.
In the quietude of the park, my thoughts spoke to him in a silent conversation:
“Whenever I was in pain,
You made me relieved.
Whenever I was stuck,
You made me escape.
No matter what,
You never left me alone.
After we grew up,
We parted away.
But not our love,
We kept loving each other in silence.”
As I let my feelings flow, and said, “Paul, can you see me? We’ll meet again in the next life, but for now, my priority is Derek. He has done so much for me, and he understands how much I love you.”
“I know you can hear me. Our daughter is now 7 years old, and Derek loves her a lot.”
I looked at the river with a smile, feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays on my skin, and in that moment, it was as if I could sense your touch, Paul. The nostalgia and longing surged within me-I miss you.
**
Paul’s POV.
Meanwhile, my eyes welled up as I returned my gaze to the park and found a quiet spot to sit. As I sat on the bench, I stared out across the river, clutching the locket in my palm-a precious memento of Elena and Paulina. The water drops on their picture mirrored the tears that escaped my eyes.
I smiled wistfully, my heart heavy with regret. “I’m sorry, Elena. When you needed me, I ignored you. When you kept enduring pain, I neglected you.”
“I could have embraced you and said, ‘Don’t worry, I am here,’ but I couldn’t. Because I am a coward, and I will always be. All I have got to say now is, loving you was worth it to me.”
“I love you, Elena.” Saying this, I pressed a kiss onto her picture, a silent gesture filled with the weight of unspoken words and regret.