One Year Later
Sophie still flinches at loud voices.
She hesitates before calling me “Daddy,” like she’s afraid that even the word might make me disappear.
She still clings to me when she’s scared—when nightmares chase her, when she can’t see me in a store after someone lets go of her hand.
But she laughs more now. She’s lighter. She’s learning to trust in a love that doesn’t leave.
Tonight, as I tucked her into bed, she curled against me, her tiny fingers wrapped around mine.
“You won’t leave me, Daddy?”
“Never,” I said, kissing her forehead.
She sighed, her body relaxing into mine.
Finally safe. Finally home.
