The weekend came with golden light and a sky so clear it felt like the world was holding its breath for something beautiful. Clara had planned something simple, something close to her heart—a picnic by the riverside near the edge of the village. But this time, she wasn't going alone.
Angela and Francisca were already buzzing with excitement, running around the house as their mama, Agatha, packed fresh bread, roasted plantains, and Clara's favorite hibiscus juice into a little basket. Clara was quiet, smoothing out her dress, feeling the flutter of nerves beneath her calm.
When Emmanuel arrived, he brought a quiet calm with him, like he always did. He greeted Agatha with respect and playful charm, and both little sisters immediately clung to him like they'd known him forever.
"Are you ready?" Clara asked, voice low but smiling.
"I've been ready for this since the moment you asked me," Emmanuel replied.
They walked together, laughter following behind them as the girls skipped ahead. Clara watched how Emmanuel helped Francisca over a little puddle, how he let Angela braid a flower into his hair without a single complaint. And in that moment, she knew—this was what it meant to share not just love, but life.
By the river, they spread out the mat, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Clara saw her mom smiling with ease, the girls giggling freely, and Emmanuel laughing like he belonged.
Clara sat beside him, their shoulders touching.
"This," she said softly, "is what happiness looks like for me."
Emmanuel turned to her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"And I'll do everything I can to protect this—your peace, your smile, your heart."
Clara didn't need to say a word. Her eyes said it all.
And beneath the open sky, with love flowing as freely as the river beside them, Clara knew: maybe healing wasn't about forgetting the pain—but about finding someone who helps you carry it and still sees beauty in every scar.