The door clicked shut behind them, muffling the distant noise of the courthouse. The quiet of the private room felt sacred somehow, heavy with everything that hadn't been said for years.
Maria sat down slowly, her breath shallow, her fingers trembling as she brushed a strand of hair from her face. The paleness of her skin had deepened, a sheen of sweat clinging to her brow. Still, she forced a faint smile when Ethan entered.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thin but steady. "Thank you for helping me… after everything I did to you."
Ethan didn't respond immediately. He stood by the wall, hands in his pockets, eyes weighed with regret. Then he stepped forward and sat across from her, slowly.
"We both made mistakes, Maria," he said. "We all carry things we wish we could undo. My prayer… my hope is that one day, we can move past it all. Not just for us."
He hesitated, his eyes flickering.
"For the children."
Maria blinked, confused. "The children?"
