“I did it myself,” she said. “I didn’t know what else to bring.”
Emilia lay in her trash and moved her hands.
Sylvia approached slowly.
“Can I take her?”
My heart has shrunk.
I looked at my daughter.
Then to the baby.
“Yes.
Sylvia took it insecurely.
The first seconds seemed strange, as if he didn’t know where to put his hands.
Then Emilia grabbed her finger.
Sylvia cried.
“It’s so small.
“Yes.
Mom…
I was waiting.
I was really afraid.
I nodded.
“I know.
“But I was angry. Because I thought if you had another child, what you did for us would become less important.
Those words surprised me.
“What does that mean?”
I’ve been telling myself all my life that we are your meaning. Me and Michaud. That you sacrificed everything for us. And when Emilia came along, I felt… replaced.
I sat next to her.
“No one can replace their child, Sylvia.
I know it with my head. But not with my heart.
I put my hand on her shoulder.
You will always be my daughter. And Michael will always be my son. Emilia doesn’t take anything away from you.
But he will inherit.
Here’s the truth.
Small. Uncomfortable. But still there.
I looked at her.
“Yes. He will inherit. So are you. But love is not a property that is divided by square meters.
Sylvia bowed her head.
I’m sorry about the court.
Those words didn’t erase anything.
They couldn’t.
But they were a start.
“And I’m sorry I kept you out of it,” I said. “I shouldn’t have told you everything from day one.” But I should have told you more.
She nodded.
Emilia made a small sound and smiled in her dream.
Sylvia looked at her.
Maybe he’ll call me what one day.
“Maybe.”
Michael came much later.
Not with a gift.
Not with apology.
It came with questions.
What will happen to the house?
That was the first thing he said.
Todor was there.
He looked at him calmly.
Hello, Mikhail.
Michael didn’t even answer.
He was looking at me.
Mother, we need to talk practically.
“Okay. Let’s talk practically.
“If anything happens to you, will the house be left to that child?”
