” “No. They’re very sensitive right now. Santiago still wakes up in the middle of the night thinking you’re not coming back. Alma refuses to leave his side, not even to go to the bathroom. They’re in therapy.
” “I’m going to therapy too.”
Tomás looked at her for several seconds.
“I’m not going to make it easy for you, Leticia. But if you truly make the effort and change… if you really commit, we’ll discuss it with the judge. Not for your sake, but for theirs.”
Leticia nodded, and for the first time in weeks, a faint smile appeared on her face.
“Thank you.”
Tomás turned to leave but paused before walking out.
“Don’t thank me yet. Do things properly.”
When he returned home, Santiago was waiting for him in the dining room with a sheet of paper and a box of crayons.
“Did you go see my mom?
” “Yes. She’s doing better. She’s starting to feel better. She’s going to therapy, just like you.”
Santiago thought for a moment.
“Is she coming back?
” “Well, that will depend on what the judge says, the psychologists, and her.”
“I do want her to come back. But… different.”
Tomás bent down.
“That’s what we all want, son. For her to get better. For her to be the mother you deserve.”
Santiago showed him the drawing. It was a house with four little monkeys: him, Alma, Tomás, and Leticia. All of them had big smiles.
“Do you think we can ever be like that?”
Tomás looked him in the eyes.
“If we all try hard and do our part, yes. But slowly, without rushing.”
Santiago hugged his father. Alma ran into the dining room with her doll, climbed onto a chair, and shouted,
“I’m hungry!”
Tomás burst out laughing for the first time in days.
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