Page 4 of I Survived and will rise again

I look at him with appreciation, and my lips curl into a smile. "Thank you," I tell him.

He acknowledges my words with a gentle nod and a sexy grin, exposing his dimples.

Abuela turns to Donnie, and her lips curve upward into a warm smile, “And you,” she says, extending her finger toward him. Donnie meets her halfway, pulling her into his arms and receiving a warm kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for loving my girls,” Abuela says affectionately, and Donnie's eyes shift to me from over her head. “Always,” he whispers, loud enough for me to hear, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine.

Abuela has a tired smile on her face as she looks back and forth between Ash and Donnie. Everyone’s emotions are running high after today. She speaks up again, her voice firm and resolute. “I want both of you to stay here tonight.” Before they can protest, she raises her hand, silencing them. “No arguments,” she says in Spanish. “You had a long day too. This day affected you as much as it did us. Please stay the night for my peace of mind, so I know you are both safe.”

They exchange a glance before nodding in agreement. “Good,” Abuela says with a satisfied nod. Then she asks me, “Mija, can you make their beds in the living room?”

“Of course.” I gently smile. “Go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning.”

As she makes her way toward her room, I notice the heaviness in her movements. Her shoulders droop with exhaustion, and each step she takes seems slower than the last. The door creaks slightly as she pulls it shut.

Once I know she’s getting comfortable in her room, I quickly set up the couch for Donnie and Ash with a soft pillow and warm blanket. I glance at the guys. "Are you sure you'll be fine?" I ask, feeling bad that they don't have a proper bed. I would have offered Jo's room, but they might find it awkward, and I don't want to make them uncomfortable.

“Don't worry, baby,” Donnie assures me, pulling me closer to him.

“Yeah, we'll be just fine, Shorty,” Ash chimes in as he sets a pillow on the couch. He looks at me and flashes a mischievous grin. “I can't think of a better place tocrash for the night.” He winks at me and walks over, playfully tugging me away from Donnie, who growls in response.

Ash chuckles and plants a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Love you, Shorty,” he whispers.

“Love you too, Ash,” I reply, giving him a warm hug before letting go.

I say goodnight to Ash and turn off the lights. Donnie trails behind me, following me down the hall. As soon as we walk into my room, a sudden heaviness overcomes my body, and my mind remains restless. I sluggishly make my way to my bed and sink into it, releasing a deep exhale as I replay the day's events in my head. The silence in the room is only broken by the sound of my breathing as I lie there, staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Donnie lies beside me and we stare at the ceiling together. Tears threaten to spill as I struggle to contain the whirlwind of emotions brewing inside me. My chest feels like a ticking time bomb, ready to detonate. Donnie's quiet presence envelops me like a protective shield, keeping me safe from its explosive contents that are waiting to be unleashed.

It is as if he has the power to silence the noise in my head and soothe the turmoil inside me, just like he used to when we were kids. With him near, I feel whole again, like all my broken pieces are coming together. The tears I held back slowly begin to spill down my cheeks.

Donnie remains still, allowing my tears to flow without interruption. He understands that pain is sometimes too deep for words alone to heal it. His arm finds its way around me, pulling me close as I curl into him, seeking solace and comfort.

As my cries begin to subside, my eyelids start to droop, and I find the peace of sleep.

A FEW NIGHTS LATER

With Sophia in my arms, I walk down the hospital hallway toward Jo's room. The soft sound of my footsteps echoes off the walls. As I turn the corner, I notice Abbey, the nurse who has cared for our family for the last few months, standing at the nurses' station while on a phone call. With a gentle smile, she looks up. Her eyes light up, and her warm smile widens as she sends me a playful wink.

My focus shifts to my daughter, who responds with a playful spit bubble. “Are you ready to see Tio Jo?” I ask her, playfully tickling her tummy. She giggles and wiggles her legs with excitement.

I knock on Jo's door and hear him say, “Come in.”

I push the door open slowly, peeking inside like a mischievous child. “Hey, Jo,” I say and step further into the room.

The shades are wide open, allowing the warm, natural sunlight to pour in. Jo is sitting on the bed, looking much better than he has the last few days. His hair is freshly washed, his face shaven, and he's wearing his favorite black T-shirt. He has the blankets pulled up to his waist, and he’s scrolling through his phone.

Jo glances up from it, and his eyebrows raise along with his smile at the sight of Sophia in my arms. “Finally. There's my girl,” he says as he reaches out to take her from me, and as soon as she touches his chest, she snuggles into him. His smile grows wider as he holds her close.

I sit on Jo's bed and turn so I’m facing him. Our eyes meet in a warm gaze. Jo clears his throat and speaks softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I listened to your voicemail.” His wordshang in the air for a moment, and I can hear the weight of his emotions behind them.

I reach into my purse, retrieving the letter Javi gave me that Jo wrote, and hold it up for Jo to see. “And I read your letter,” I reply.

Javi gave me the letter after Jo's funeral.

“I was asked to give this to you when the time was right.” Javi hands me a sealed envelope. “I figured this was that time.”

After reading Jo’s letter for the first time, my eyes grew heavy, and my tears kept rolling down my cheeks. As I absorbed the words on the page, I could feel Jo's fear, regret, and sadness emanating from the ink.

Dear Sade,

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