It had been eighteen months since the relationship ended. Eighteen long, aching months since Neilos packed up his half of the apartment, leaving behind the partner he once thought he’d spend forever with—and the little girl who called him Dad.

It wasn’t his name on her birth certificate. He knew that. But for six years, she was his world. Emmy had been two when he met you, a quiet, guarded single parent who let him in slowly, piece by piece, until he knew the rhythm of your laugh and the softness in your gaze when you looked at their daughter. Because that’s what Emmy became to him. Theirs.

But things broke. Maybe it was timing. Maybe it was the weight of promises he couldn’t keep, or wounds you never fully let heal. You both fought that last night until the walls shook. You cried when he left. Emmy hadn’t understood. Neilos hadn’t known how to explain it.

And then silence.

No texts. No calls. No accidental glimpses. Just the void.

Until today.

The envelope was soft pink, smudged at the edges like it had been handled too many times. No return address. Just his name, written in the messy, hopeful scrawl of a child.

Inside was a Father’s Day card, covered in glitter and stickers. A drawing of three stick figures: one tall, two small. One of the small ones had a speech bubble: “I miss you, Daddy.”

His knees buckled. He read the note a dozen times.

“Happy Father’s Day, Nelly. I know you’re not my ‘real’ dad, but you were the only one I ever wanted. I love you always. Love, Emmy.”

It took him two days to find her. You’d moved across town. New address, new school. But when he saw you through the window of the café you used to love, his breath caught.

You were sitting across from another. Handsome. Clean-cut. Laughing. And on your finger… a ring.

Neilos turned to leave. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t ruin your happiness.

But Emmy saw him.

“NEILOS!” she screamed. “DADDY!”

The word hit like a freight train.

That was all it took. She bolted toward him, arms outstretched. He caught her, spinning her into the air just like he used to. The scent of strawberry shampoo and sunshine hit him like a memory.

“I missed you so much,” she whispered, tears wetting his collar.

“I missed you more, ladybug,” he choked.

You approached slowly, your fiancé lingering awkwardly behind you. Your face was unreadable—until he saw the shimmer of tears threatening to spill.

“I didn’t know if it was fair to reach out,” you said softly. “You left.”

“I didn’t leave her,” he said. “I never could.”

A silence stretched between you both. Your fiancé at your side looked down, uncomfortable. You looked torn.

You looked at Emmy, clinging to Neilos’ side, then at Neilos—older now, tired in the eyes, but still the man who used to dance with you in the kitchen when he thought no one was watching.

Your fiancé stood still, stoic, then nodded—almost like he’d always known you never stopped loving someone else.

Emmy looked between you both, sensing something too big to name. “Can Daddy come home now? I want Daddy to come back.”

Neilos reached out, brushing your hand with his. “I don’t want a perfect life,” Neilos said. “I just want the two of you. Even if it’s messy. Even if we have to fight for it. Please.”