He was quiet for a moment. "Angry? Of course. I'm angry I missed her first steps, her first words, her helplessness when she was sick. But more than that... I feel regret."
He stood up and walked over to me. "Anna, I don't want to waste time on blame. I just want to start doing what a father should do, from now on."
"Even if I need time to make sure you're serious?"
"Even if you need to test me," he nodded. "I understand you want to protect her. But please give me a chance to prove myself."
Looking at the sincerity in his eyes, my defenses slowly crumbled.
"Okay," I said, "but I have conditions."
"What conditions?"
"We take it slow. Start as friends, increase the time together gradually, see how you two get along. When to tell her the truth is my decision."
"I agree," he nodded without hesitation. "Any other conditions?"
"I need you to promise that Sofia's feelings always come first. If she feels uncomfortable or confused, we stop and reassess."
"Of course," his expression was completely serious. "Her happiness matters more than anything."
We looked at each other as the tension in the air slowly dissolved.
"Alex," I said softly, "do you want to know everything about her? Everything that happened these five years?"
His eyes lit up. "Yes. I want to know everything. From the moment she was born."
We sat on the bed's edge as I began telling the story of these five years. He listened intently, asking occasional questions, his eyes full of longing for his daughter and regret for lost time.
"When did she start walking?"
"Eleven months. Earlier than most kids."
"What's she afraid of?"
"Thunder, and the dark. But she holds her doll and pretends to be brave."
Every detail helped him know this daughter he'd missed for five years.
"What about you?" he finally asked. "These five years... was there anyone else?"
I shook my head. "No. I put all my energy into Sofia."
"Why?"
"Because... because no one could make me forget that night," I admitted.
His expression grew tender. "I had a relationship once, but it ended long ago."
"Why?"
"Because she wasn't you," he said. "For five years, I've been thinking about you, Anna. About that night, about what would happen if I could see you again."
My heart started racing.
"I know the situation's complicated," he continued, "but I want you to know my feelings for you never changed."
We stared at each other as that five-year-old attraction flowed between us again. Slowly, he reached out to touch my cheek.
