Chapter 13 - THE APOLOGYVictoria came to the house the following morning.
Evelyn opened the door.
Mother and daughter stared at each other.
Victoria couldn't speak.
Evelyn finally whispered:
"My little girl."
Victoria broke.
She fell into her mother's arms.
"I thought you abandoned us."
"I never did."
"I thought Clara was dead."
"I searched for her every day."
Victoria cried like a child.
Clara stood behind them.
She could have walked away.
Instead, she stepped forward.
Victoria looked at her.
"I hurt you."
"Yes."
"I hurt Leo."
"Yes."
"I don't deserve forgiveness."
Clara took a breath.
"No. You don't."
Victoria lowered her head.
"But..."
Clara continued.
"Forgiveness isn't pretending it never happened."
Victoria looked up.
"It's choosing not to let what happened destroy the rest of our lives."
Victoria cried again.
This time, Clara hugged her.
May you like
Not because the past was forgotten.
But because the future still mattered.
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