Page 89 of Please, Forgive Me

My thoughts drifted, and for a second the calm I’d felt vanished.

The baby… it was still hard to believe that in a few months I’d be a mother. The idea of raising a child on my own scared me, but at the same time it filled me with a fierce determination.

I knew I’d give it everything I had, even without Diego by my side.

“You know,” I began, a soft smile forming on my lips, “now that I’m out of that job, I’ve been thinking about taking the first steps toward opening my own business. Something small, of course, but it’s something I’ve always wanted.”

Carolina snapped her fingers, like she was seeing my future unfold.

“That! That’s exactly what you need. A fresh start. And I’ll be right here to help with every step, whatever it is. We can even brainstorm a cool name for your business. What do you think?”

I smiled back, a spark of hope rising in my chest.

“I’d love that. I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

“And you’ve got it.”

The relief I’d mentioned earlier settled over me again, but this time it came with a new kind of energy.

For the first time in a long while, it wasn’t fear or uncertainty steering me—it was a genuine desire to move forward, to create something new, something that was mine.

Something no one, not even Diego Bittencourt, could take away from me.

As I thought about that, Max—my loyal four-legged companion—jumped onto the couch beside me, resting his head in my lap. I smiled and stroked his soft fur. He seemed to sense the weight of the moment, as if he knew he was there to remind me everything would be okay.

Carolina looked at him and, of course, couldn’t resist a joke.

“See? You’ve already got the perfect team. A dog who understands you better than any man and a friend who lifts you up.Honestly, Gabi, life’s headed in the right direction.”

CHAPTER 36

“We need to lose ourselves in order to truly find who we are…”

MARIA GABRIELA

“Push, girl, you’ve got this!” Carol’s voice echoed beside me, firm and steady, while I took a deep breath and braced myself for another contraction.

I’d been in labor for hours, and even though I knew this was the road to finally meeting my baby, the pain was almost unbearable.

“You’re doing great, Maria Gabriela, we’re almost there!” one of the nurses encouraged, her calm tone trying to soothe the chaos my body was going through.

The doctor was focused but composed, guiding me through the process with the kind of experience that gave me a flicker of comfort. I’d never imagined it would be like this. I’d heard stories about labor before, but living it was something entirely different.

I felt Carolina squeeze my hand tightly, and a wave of gratitude washed over me.

“One more time, Gabi—breathe and push,” she said with a gentle smile, trying to lighten the tension.

I knew that behind that smile were fear and worry—but above all, love. I squeezed her hand back, trying to draw some of her strength.

The next contraction hit hard, and a raw cry escaped my lips. It felt like my entire body was on fire, but deep down, I knew the end was close.

I could feel it.

The doctor gave a quick signal, and the nurse adjusted my position slightly.

“Come on, just one more, Maria Gabriela. I can see the baby’s head!” the nurse urged, her warm smile encouraging me as I prepared for the final push.

I gathered every ounce of strength left in me and, with one last desperate cry, felt the sudden relief of pain as my baby entered the world.