Chapter 8 - The Choice to Stay
Three months later, Luca turned one.
The birthday party was small.
No politicians.
No expensive guests.
No armed men standing too close.
Just Lauren, Giovanni, a few trusted friends, cake shaped like a little lion, and Luca wearing a blue sweater with frosting on his nose.
Giovanni laughed when Luca smashed both hands into the cake.
Lauren took a picture.
Then she stopped.
Because she realized she was smiling without fear.
Later, after Luca had fallen asleep, Giovanni found Lauren standing by the window.
“Are you happy?” he asked.
She thought about it.
“I’m learning how to be.”
Giovanni nodded.
“I want you to know something,” he said. “You never have to stay with me because I’m Luca’s father.”
Lauren looked at him.
“I know.”
“I’ll support you both no matter what.”
“I know.”
“And if you decide you want a life far away from me, I’ll make sure you have it.”
She stepped closer.
“Do you want me to leave?”
Giovanni’s eyes softened.
“No.”
“Then stop deciding for me.”
He inhaled slowly.
Lauren touched his face.
“I left because I thought loving you meant losing myself. But maybe loving you only works if you stop treating love like something you have to control.”
Giovanni closed his eyes.
“I’m trying.”
“I know.”
Then she kissed him.
Not because he was powerful.
Not because he was feared.
Not because he had arrived in a helicopter and made an entire hospital tremble.
May you like
She kissed him because he had finally learned how to stay.
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