Chapter 4

Daniel began selling sugarcane.

It wasn’t glamorous.

It was exhausting.

But he worked.

He woke before sunrise.

He traveled from village to village.

He carried heavy loads.

And slowly, things improved.

One month he called me.

“I made good money.”

“How much?”

He laughed.

“Enough to finally feel like I’m not useless.”

I didn’t know what to say.

Daniel had changed before.

But this felt different.

He wasn’t trying to impress me.

He was trying to prove something to himself.

Several months passed.

Then he called again.

“Clara?”

“Yes?”

“Can I come home?”

I was silent.

“Not forever,” he added quickly. “I just want to talk.”

“You can talk on the phone.”

“I know.”

He paused.

“But I want to look at you when I say this.”

I waited.

“I’ve been a terrible husband.”

My chest tightened.

“I know.”

“I don’t expect you to forgive me.”

“Good.”

He laughed softly.

“I deserve that.”

Then he said something I never expected.

“I’m going to spend the rest of my life becoming someone you don’t have to be ashamed of.”

I didn’t answer.

Because somewhere deep inside me, a tiny part of my heart still loved him.

And that frightened me.