ECHOES OF US | 18+ ✔️

EPILOGUE (Part II)

DANTÉ

After nearly a week of silence, my phone buzzes with a message from Alec: "Let's meet at the coffee shop on 7th Street. Tomorrow at 10 AM." The words stare back at me, setting off a surge of emotions I can't quite control. A sudden nervousness grips me, twisting my stomach into knots. My hands feel clammy, and for a moment, I hesitate, questioning whether I'm making the right choice.

Doubts flood my mind like an unrelenting tide. What if I'm about to shatter whatever peace she's found? What if this backfires and I push her even further away? The thought alone makes my chest tighten. But deep down, I know I can't keep running from this.

I force myself to take a deep breath, letting the air fill my lungs before slowly releasing it. I have to do this—for her, for me, for the chance to bridge the chasm of lost years. No more standing on the sidelines of her life. No more watching from afar.

The next morning, as I step into the coffee shop, the aroma of roasted beans and baked goods greets me, but it does little to calm my nerves. My palms are damp, and my heart pounds harder with every passing second. I remind myself why I'm here—to take the first step toward redemption, to ask for a second chance.

I settle into a table tucked into a secluded corner, its vantage point offering a clear view of the café's entrance. Privacy feels necessary, but I also need to see who's coming in. When the waitress arrives, I order an espresso, hoping the caffeine might steady my nerves.

Minutes later, the door swings open, and Alec steps inside. He scans the room, searching. My pulse quickens. There's no turning back now.

I raise a hand to catch his attention, and when his gaze lands on me, he starts toward my table. Rising from my seat, I extend a hand as he approaches.

"Hey, Alec."

"Good morning, Captain," he replies, gripping my hand firmly.

"No need for formalities. Call me Danté," I say, offering a faint smile. He nods in acknowledgment as we both sit. "I appreciate you taking the time to meet me."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious," Alec admits with a smirk.

"That's fair," I reply, feeling a twinge of awkwardness. "Before we get into it, can I get you a coffee or something to eat?"

"A coffee sounds good."

I signal to the waitress and order a coffee for him. As she walks away, I take a deep breath, steadying myself.

"Well..." I begin, my voice faltering. "I don't even know if this is the right thing to do, meeting with you like this, b-but I've been carrying this weight for years."

Alec's brow furrows slightly, his confusion evident, but before I can say more, he asks gently, "How can I help lighten the burden?"

The question hangs in the air for a moment as I muster the courage to speak. "Years ago, there was a maniac—a dangerous man—on the loose. He shot me, came close to killing me, and hurt my wife, who was pregnant at the time."

The waitress returns, setting our beverages on the table. I seize the brief interruption, lifting my espresso to my lips, the bitterness grounding me as I muster the courage to continue. Alec watches me intently, his expression steady but unreadable, his silence urging me to go on. When the waitress disappears, he gives a small nod, silently granting permission for me to proceed.

"With everything happening back then, we almost lost our unborn child," I begin, my voice quieter, tinged with regret. "So... uh.. when our little princess was just three months old, I made the hardest decision of my life. I sent them away—to start fresh, to be safe, to have a life without the constant danger my world brought. It wasn't an easy choice, but it was the right one at the time."