Page 92 of Please, Forgive Me

After all the storms, all the battles, we could finally have a moment of peace.

Clara lay beside me on the couch, wrapped in a soft pink blanket, her tiny fingers twitching every so often. I never could’ve imagined that someone so small could bring so much calm—and at the same time, so much fear—to my heart.

My home, which had once felt so empty, now carried a new kind of energy—a life I could hardly believe I’d created. Everything looked different, as if I were living in an entirely new reality.

I was exhausted, of course, but in a way that was almost gratifying. That mix of fatigue and the quiet pride of having brought Clara into the world filled me with a strange kind of strength.

Holding her little hand, I gazed at her perfect face—her delicate features, her eyes closed in deep sleep. I knew the chaos outside was still there, especially now that the paternity test was underway.

Before leaving the hospital, I’d agreed to have it done at three different labs, just to make sure there’d be no room for doubt.

Diego, of course, had insisted on it.

All I wanted was to move on. I was tired, desperate to leave that chapter behind—but something still held me back.

The door opened softly, and Carolina walked in with a cheerful expression, her arms full of grocery bags.

“Brought reinforcements!” she announced, waving the bags. “I figured you’d need more than love and milk to survive the first few days.”

I laughed, careful not to make too much noise and wake Clara.

“I think you just read my mind,” I said, the weight of gratitude washing over me for having her by my side in moments like this.

She sat next to me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she looked down at Clara.

“She’s perfect, Gabi. You did it.” The emotion in her voice nearly made me cry again—but this time, they would’ve been tears of happiness.

I sighed, still watching my daughter.

“Yeah, I did. But there’s still so much to face—the DNA test, Diego, the whole circus that comes with it. I just want it to be over.”

Carolina nodded, squeezing my hand for a moment before starting to unpack the food she’d brought.

“Your mom’s coming back soon?”

“Yeah, she said she’d be here in a few minutes.”

“Good. Don’t worry about Diego right now. Enjoy these first moments with Clara. Let the rest of the world take care of itself for a while.”

I knew she was right.

Still, it was hard to push away the uncertainty—the fear of what was coming next. The test results were still pending, and whatever they revealed would bring a whole new wave of complications.

But for now, all I wanted was to forget about the world outside and focus on Clara—on her tiny sighs, the way her soft skin brushed against mine.

“Has Diego reached out yet?” Carolina asked, breaking the silence.

I shook my head.

“No. And honestly, I don’t even know what to expect when he does. If he’s going to attack me like always, pick another fight… or finally accept the truth.”

“He’ll accept it,” Carol said confidently. “Because deep down, he knows this baby is his. And honestly? He’d have to be a complete idiot to deny it much longer.”

I smiled, though a flicker of doubt still lingered.

After everything we’d been through, trusting him felt like the hardest thing in the world.

“I just want him to understand… that Clara isn’t a DNA test or some matter of pride. She’s a life—a part of me… and of him, whether he likes it or not.”