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“I polished this silver cuff today.” My wife held up the shiny trinket. I didn’t have money then to buy her expensive gifts, butthat tiny diamond that was set in a gold-plated sun reminded me of what Bianca meant to me. Speaking of expensive, I was thankful my wife kept that huge-ass diamond ring I bought her. She said it marked her rebirth and the night I breathed new life into her. I didn’t gnash my teeth anymore when I thought about the time I almost lost her. It only cemented our bond that had been there since the first time I rescued her in the pool.

Camilla tried to grasp it. Her grip wasn’t strong yet, but she loved to reach for things.

“Did you know the day your dad gave me this was the day I decided I was going to marry him?” Bianca told our daughter, but she was looking at me like I was her entire universe.

Our beautiful love story. It was one for the ages and meant to be shared with the next generation.

“I love you so fucking much,” I rasped with an emotion that choked me.

My wife rolled her lips together, but her throat worked convulsively, as if suppressing the overwhelming feelings that came each time we recalled the hard-fought journey we went through to reach this point.

She stood and hugged us. Father and daughter.

“You’ve always been mine, Sandro.” She pressed a gentle kiss on my mouth. “You have my heart forever.”

“In case you didn’t know, you’ve always been mine, too.”

Forever.