ease » antoine griezmann

bonus chapter: today

the first anniversary of this story is around the corner so I thought I should give you an update on Antoine and Marie's life!

ANTOINE IS SITTING on the carpet floor of his living room, there's legos scattered around all over the place and in front of him, half a pile that's supposed to be a castle but in reality looks like a, well it doesn't really have a shape. But for his daughter it looks like a castle, so he and Marie went along with it.

Their daughter, Vania just turned three but was already showing her mother's creativity.  They had gifted her a giant lego set and their little girl loved to build and knock down piles.

Vania was Antoine's pride and joy.

A tiny human that has his eyes, nose and smile but chocolate brown curly hair just like Marie. He has to admit that the first time he saw her at the hospital he wondered how the hell he was supposed to take care of such precious and fragile human when he could barely take care of himself? But then she nuzzled to his chest, his fear and freaking melted a bit. Seeing Marie holding his child minutes later he realized they were in this together and their princess would grow up as normal as she could be.

Antoine felt like the luckiest man alive.

Even now, two years later, he still wonder how is he doing it.

"Okay sweetheart, go give daddy a big hug!" Marie says to the toddler as she puts her on the floor. The child runs to her daddy and gives him a big sloppy kiss before circling her little arms around his neck.

Antoine smiles as he returns the hug, stands and starts walking to her room. As he lays his daughter on her bed, something creeps in to the back of his mind, like a punishment, like he wasn't allowed to feel this content, like this feeling will never go away, he is reminded of the darkest time of his life.

But he knew better.

He knew better than to dwell in those irrational ideas. Antoine knew now how much he has changed, how much he had overcome and while he still this thoughts, he knew he had to move on.

When Antoine first started to date Marie, he swore to himself he would give her the life she deserved. The kind of life were they both could be free. The kind of life that had answers instead of questions. The kind of life where together they could conquer their ghosts.

And now they have a two year old that is discovering and exploring the world and has more questions that answers. And sometimes they have the answers to them, sometimes they don't but they are together and they know it's okay. Maybe tomorrow they will make a mistake, maybe tomorrow their little princess will cry, maybe tomorrow she will be just as sacred of the world as they are, maybe the darkness will haunt her and maybe she will loose the excitement of discovering the life that surrounds her and it'll become a monotony but Antoine knew that love could conquer everything. He knew that as long as she was in his arms and Marie by his side, he could clean her tears, explain the world to her, leave a light on and finding ways to make the days more exciting.

Antoine kisses Vania on her forehead and tucks her in, the child already half asleep as it had been a fun day playing with the legos.

He stays quiet for a few moments before he moves a strand of hair to the back of her ears and caresses her cheek.

"May you grow up with the kind of friends I did, Vania." Antoine starts very quietly. "The kind of friends that will sneak you out the house to have burgers and park their cars in private land and lay on the hood to see they stars. May you see this house when you are eighteen and think 'I was very blessed to grow up here', may you see your beautiful mother and I and think about the times we ran trough the house playing tag, may you have adventures, my child. May you make memories with your friends and  may you grow up with out second guess everything and if you do, may you know that there's always someone to walk with you."

Marie, who had been an spectator of the father-daughter moment for quite some time, delicately puts her hand on her husbands shoulder. "Any day like today can help you go through the rest of your life, Antoine. I know you have your doubts about going away for some games and leaving us her, I know you think you don't spend enough time with her, but you do. You help around the house and always make sure to play with her and her dolls. Vania always talks to her friends and their moms about the goals you will dedicate to her when you are away.

She is growing up as happy as a child can, I am happy at your side. You are happy, baby. Don't doubt yourself. She is not alone. She never will. She has us."

And Antoine knew. He knew she was right.

His football career was doing more than well, Marie was about to open her own art gallery. He has indeed happy. His wife was happy. His daughter was happy. And any doubt in his mind will just pass by.