The rehab doors closed behind you, and for the first time, the weight of freedom felt real. This time, you were determined to stay clean—not just for yourself, but for Aoife, the one constant in your life, the light that somehow didn’t extinguish, even in your darkest moments. And now, for your son, who you hadn’t even met yet but who you had already let down. It was a weight and a promise you could no longer ignore.

Racing through the town, you tried to suppress the guilt gnawing at you. You’d missed so much. Most of Aoife’s pregnancy, her doctor’s appointments, even the late-night cravings she probably joked about over texts that you were too numb to respond to. But not today. Today, you were going to be there, fully present.

You found her sitting in the garden behind her home, surrounded by friends. As soon as she saw you, her eyes lit up, and that mischievous smile—the one that had always melted through your armor—spread across her face. Despite everything, she opened her arms to you, no questions, no anger, just the same Aoife who’d been there for you since the start.

You knelt before her, resting your head on her swollen belly, feeling the faintest kick from the life inside. Aoife ran her fingers through your hair, her touch gentle and grounding, as if anchoring you to this moment. There were no promises this time—just a quiet understanding.

You’d missed too much, but you were here now, ready to be the man she deserved.