Damiano was sitting with a newspaper in one hand and a mug of espresso in the other. There were traces of sleep on his face. Despite this, he noticed you in the doorway immediately.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

You took a deep breath. You weren't sure how to start. You had been composing these words in your head all night, but now that he was standing in front of you, they seemed so hard to say.

"I just... wanted to talk to you."

He put the newspaper down, moving the mug to the side. "Okay, I'm listening."

You sat down opposite him, feeling your heart pounding in your chest.

"You know..." you began, nervously playing with the sleeve of your sweatshirt. "You've been in my life for as long as I can remember. There is no memory of mine that doesn't have you in it. You raised me. You were at all my performances at school, you taught me how to ride a bike, how to cook pasta without overcooking it..." You smiled slightly, and he snorted under his breath.

"So I did teach you something."

You looked down, feeling a lump in your throat. "You're my dad. Maybe not biological, but the only one I know. And... I wanted to ask..."

You raised your eyes to him, and he looked at you completely still, as if he didn't want to miss a single word you said.

"Would you like to officially adopt me?"

For a moment, there was absolute silence in the kitchen. Damiano leaned back in his chair, taking in what you had just said. Now he really looked moved.

“Do you want me to…” He paused, breaking eye contact for a split second, as if he needed to catch his breath. “To be your father? Officially?”

“You’ve been one for a long time,” you replied quietly. “I just wish you had the right to be.”

He was on his feet before you could even realize it, hugging you tightly