He read it.
He didn’t reply.
When I told Leo we were going on a little trip, his eyes lit up.
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
He lasted until we were already on the plane.
“Mom, at least tell me the country.”
I smiled.
“France.”
Leo stared at me for a few seconds.
“France?”
Then suddenly his whole expression changed.
“Wait… Paris?”
I nodded.
He threw his arms around me as tightly as he could.
Then, suddenly, he became quiet.
“What about Dad?”
I wasn’t prepared for that question.
“I don’t know, Leo.”
He looked out the airplane window for several seconds.
Then he whispered:
“That’s okay. The important thing is that you’re coming with me.”
I almost couldn’t hold back my tears.
The next day, we were in Paris.
When the Eiffel Tower finally appeared in the distance, I wasn’t looking at the tower.
I was looking at Leo.
He stopped walking.
He tilted his head back.
And for a long time, he said nothing.
“Leo?”
Finally, he smiled.
“Mom… it’s actually much bigger than I thought.”
I laughed.
He laughed too.
And for the first time in months, I didn’t see a hospital when I looked at his face.
I didn’t see doctors.
I didn’t see test results.
I just saw my son.
He wanted us to take a selfie.
“Just you and me, Mom.”
He leaned his head against mine.
I lifted my phone.
The Eiffel Tower stood behind us.
We both smiled.
I took the picture.
At that exact moment, my phone vibrated.
A message.
I looked at the screen.
Daniel.
My heart seemed to stop.
I opened it.
There were only three words.
“I’m in Paris.”
Leo noticed my expression.
“Mom, what happened?”
I didn’t have time to answer.
Suddenly, he looked over my shoulder.
His eyes widened.
“Dad?”
I turned around.
Daniel was walking toward us through the crowd.
He was crying.
Leo didn’t hesitate.
He ran straight toward him.
Daniel dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around our son.
I stood several steps away.
I still hadn’t forgiven him.
I hadn’t forgotten that he had walked away when we needed him most.
But in that moment, my anger felt smaller than what I was seeing in front of me.
Leo had his arms around his father and kept saying:
