« Yes, » he murmured. « Because happiness isn’t the absence of pain. It’s choosing to transform pain into something good. »
« Like you did with us? » asked Valentina.
« Just like we did together, » Ricardo corrected. « You, me, Abuelita Carmen… even Aunt Veronica, in her own way. Everyone is trying to learn how to become better. »
The girls snuggled under their blankets, a smile on their lips.
« We are very lucky, » Sofía murmured.
Ricardo gently pushed a strand of hair away from their face.
“No,” he said, his heart full. “I’m the lucky one. Because I’m lucky to be your father.”
Carmen walked down the corridor.
Ricardo turned towards her.
« Thank you, » he said. « For never giving up on them. For never giving up on Carmen. »
Carmen placed her hand on his arm, her gaze filled with a wisdom acquired over the years.
« I waited years for the chance to love them, » she replied. « And I would wait another ten years if necessary, to arrive exactly here—with all of you. »
Ricardo smiled.
A family — not created only by blood, but by loss, truth, courage, and second chances.
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