Chapter 169: A father
As the first light of dawn filters through the room, I find myself with my arms wrapped around Noelle. The golden hues of morning paint the walls in soft, muted tones, and for the first time in what feels like an eternity, my heart is at peace.
After Noelle calmed down, he spent hours talking about her—our daughter. My daughter. Mirelle.
The thought of her name alone stirs something deep within me, something I never expected to feel. I’ve always known love in one form—Noelle is my star, my universe, the axis upon which my world turns. But Mirelle... Mirelle is different. She is a part of him, a part of us. Somehow, this tiny person has expanded the boundaries of my heart in ways I never thought possible. I never imagined I could love anyone as much as I do Noelle, yet here I am. I was wrong.
I would give that little thing the world.
The memory of holding her for the first time yesterday is still fresh in my mind. She’s so small, so fragile. I can’t believe she was even smaller once. In just a few months, she’ll be one year old. A year of her life, and I wasn’t there. My heart tightens painfully at the thought. I missed it all—the pregnancy, the first precious weeks of her life. The knowledge that I wasn’t there when they both needed me most, that I nearly lost them both when she was born... It’s a weight that I know will haunt me for years to come.
Beside me, Noelle stirs slightly before settling again. The sound of his soft snores fills the room, steady and rhythmic. I glance down at him, his face finally at peace after a night of raw emotions and tears. He’s so beautiful, even in sleep. The faint shadows under his eyes and the lines of exhaustion etched into his features only make me love him more.
"My beloved star," I whisper softly, the words barely audible in the quiet room. He doesn’t respond, too deeply lost in the rest he so desperately needs.
For a few more moments, I stay there, holding him close, unwilling to let go. But I know he needs this sleep—both mentally and physically. Truthfully, I do too, but my mind is too restless. Thoughts churn endlessly, keeping me tethered to consciousness.
Carefully, I shift my arms and slide out of bed, making sure not to disturb him. I tuck the blankets snugly around him, pausing for a moment to brush a stray strand of hair from his forehead. The sight of him like this, peaceful and safe, fills me with a bittersweet ache.