Page 115 of Please, Forgive Me

MARIA GABRIELA

I was at my mother’s house.

While she played with Clara, I couldn’t help but smile, taking in the scene that warmed my heart. The bond between them was beautiful—a connection only a grandmother’s love could create. Sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in my hands, I watched them in silence, letting my thoughts wander.

“He seems different, Mom,” I began softly, almost in a whisper. “Diego… he’s changed. He’s more present now, more devoted to Clara—and even with me.”

My mother looked up, still holding my daughter’s tiny hand, and gave me that gentle, knowing smile that always managed to calm me.

“You’ve noticed that, haven’t you, sweetheart?” she asked, her voice full of understanding.

I nodded, the swirl of emotions inside me making it hard to sit still.

“Yes. And I know he’s really trying—trying to be better. But… I don’t know if I’m ready to let him back into my life like that. Not yet. There’s just been so much between us, so many wounds that haven’t fully healed.” I looked down, the words slipping out with a kind of honesty I rarely allowed myself.

My mom stood up, lifted Clara into her arms, and walked over to me. She sat beside me, setting my daughter in her lap and taking my hand in hers.

“Time and patience, my love,” she said, her voice carrying the kind of wisdom that only comes with age. “If he truly wants to win you back, he’ll respect your pace, your space. And when you’re ready—when your heart feels at peace—you’ll know what to do.”

I sighed, letting her words sink in. I knew she was right, but the uncertainty still lingered—a quiet, invisible weight I’d been carrying since all of this began.

“I still feel something for him, Mom,” I admitted before I could stop myself, feeling the sting of tears pressing behind my eyes. “But… I’m scared. Scared of getting hurt again, scared of things going back to the way they were. I don’t know if I could handle that a second time.”

My mother squeezed my hand, her gaze steady and full of compassion.

“Love is always a risk, my daughter. It always has been, and it always will be. But if those feelings are still there, maybe it’s because there’s something left to discover—something worth exploring. Don’t rush it. Don’t force it. Let time show you the way. And remember, you’re not alone. You have me, you have Clara. And if Diego’s truly willing, he’ll be there too—in the right way, at the right time.”

I looked at Clara, playing idly with my mother’s fingers, and my heart tightened. My daughter—our daughter—was theunbreakable link between us. And even if I wanted to deny it, the truth was that Diego was part of my life, whether I liked it or not.

“Maybe I just need more time, Mom. Time for myself, for him… to figure out what I really want.”

“And you’ll have it, sweetheart,” she said, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “And I’ll be here for you, every step of the way.”

The comfort her words brought me was indescribable.

Even though the future was uncertain, in that moment, I knew I didn’t have to make any decisions yet. I had my mother, I had Clara—and deep down, I knew Diego was trying.

What the future held for us was still unknown.

And for now, that was enough.

CHAPTER 46

“The courage to love again is the greatest act of bravery…”

MARIA GABRIELA

It was Saturday, and the park looked especially beautiful that morning. The sun was warm but gentle, and a soft breeze stirred the leaves in the trees.

It was the first time Diego and I had come to the park together with our daughter.

As I pushed the stroller along the gravel path, a swirl of emotions washed over me. In some way, this walk felt like a milestone—a new chapter.

Diego walked beside me, his steps steady, though I could tell he was a little tense. Not because of the park or Clara, but maybe… because of me.

“Our daughter’s getting sharper every day, don’t you think?” I said, glancing at Clara, who smiled in the stroller, her curious eyes taking in everything around her.

Diego looked at her, and there was a spark in his eyes I didn’t see often.