Four years later
Nash POV: Age - 38
I am home pacing and thinking as I hold my youngest daughter in my arms. She's, thankfully, peacefully asleep and I smile slightly.
-Mireya. What will I do now? Without your mother here, I'm lost. I don't know what to do. I mean, I know what to do but, I just don't know how to do it without her.
I sigh shaking before I look at her again.
-Hopefully I'm good enough for you and your siblings.
I smile and as I start humming a lullaby there's a knock on the door. I turn around just in time to see my eldest daughter Adaobi coming in and behind her my dad.
Adaobi-Dad. Grandpa Mako is here.
-Dad.
I sigh and being picky I call her out.
-Ada, take your sister and take them all to eat out or the park, wathever, just do something to cheer up a little.
Adaobi-You have to distract yourself as well.
-Yes but I can wait. Go on.
I kiss her forehead and with a soft smile  she leaves with her sister and I sigh as I close the door.
Mako-Nash.
He grabs my shoulder and with a sharp breath I hold his hand keeping it there before I look at him but I quickly look away. He, of course, notices my troubles and he pulls me into a hug and I let him because I need it and hugging him back I cry into his shoulder. Shy at first, softly but then I just let it all out. He speaks to me but I'm so unfocused that I can't even hear or understand what he says although I think he's trying to comfort me. I have no idea how long is been but I finally calm down to even my breathing. Now that I'm actually thinking I say it out loud.
-I feel like a kid.
Mako-And? What do you think about it?
-I...............
I sit on the bed considering my words carefully. Pulling him to sit at my side I lean into him.
-Let me be a little boy. Even if it is just for moments.
Mako-Come on here. With me, you can be a little kid again.
-Just you.
Mako-I'm sure that you can do this with your sisters too.
-I know.
Mako-Hey, at least I managed to get a smile from you.
That makes me chuckle before I speak again.
-Was it this hard for you with mom?
Mako-It was but I had you, my kids, to live for. Having you and your siblings to care for made me stronger and able to move on.
I get up and thinking I look at him.
Mako-What are you thinking?
-I.............
I breathe deeply and cleaning my face I compose myself slightly enough.
-I want to be strong like you.
Mako-You're strong already.
-Well, if I'm strong then................
I am interrupted as my phone rings and as I grab it to answer I frown.
-Unknown number.
He shrugs and I sigh but I still answer.
-Nash speaking.
Adaobi-Daddy. Hey, hi.
-Adaobi, what happened with your phone? What happened?
Adaobi-I'm sorry dad but I need your help.
-Help with what? Where are you?
Adaobi-Police station. Come help me, please dad.
-Stay there and stay together. I'll be there in a few minutes.
Adaobi-Yes dad.
She hangs up and with a deep breath I start getting my things.
-Let's go dad.
I growl slightly but he comes and follows me to the car and so we go.

Adaobi POV: Age - 19
I wait patiently for dad at the police station with my siblings. Evie, my youngest fourteen teenage sister is playfully joking and tickling with our one year old baby sister Mireya. Our other sister, nine year old Izna is showing her book to our five year old only brother Jamal. I sigh and getting out of the room for a bit of space and time I have it. At least until I hear dad's familiar voice.
Nash-Adaobi!
I turn around just in time to be overwhelmed by dad's questions.
Nash-Ada, what happened? Why are you here? How are your siblings? Are you alright? What happened?
Hugging him tightly I comfort myself with his presence. Thankfully, he understands and only hugs me back kissing me gently too.
-I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.
Nash-Hey, is alright, you're alright. Just calm down. Yeah?
He adjusts my hair kissing my forehead and I calm down enough to speak with him.
-We're all fine. They're right here, inside and safe. It was, sadly, the only thing I could do.
Nash-And the most important and the right choice to make. That makes me proud of you.
-Only because you don't know what I did.
Nash-Alright, I'm checking on your siblings. You're staying here and calm yourself. We can speak when we get home.
-I can do that.
He gives me a hug and a kiss before he goes with my siblings and I stay outside with grandpa.
Mako-Easy, is alright.
-I got distraught and I almost kill the rest of my family.
Mako-Did you meant that to happen?
-Of course not. It was an accident.
Mako-See? It was an accident.
-But dad is going to be angry with me when he knows what actually happened and the consequences.
Mako-He already knows what happened.
-What? How?
Mako-We were told everything when we got here. He was, is, more worried than angry.
-But what happened and the consequences.
Mako-Are you willing to face the consequences for this?
-I am. I'm afraid but as long as none of my siblings is hurt I'm willing to face any and all consequences for my actions and mistakes.
Mako-He might feel slightly distant for a while but that's not on the bad sense because he does love you. Remember that always.
-Thank you.
He hugs me and as I look sideways I see how dad comes out from the room with my siblings.
Nash-Dad, can you take the kids home and care for them. Adaobi and I have to speak first.
-Now? Here?
Nash-Now but not here.
-I just.................
Nash-Is serious but not bad.
I look at grandpa and he motions to dad slightly.
-I.............
Nash-Come here. Just stay calm.
He holds me and I feel slightly better. I see how grandpa leaves with my siblings and I lean into dad tightly.
-Sorry.
Nash-How do you feel?
-I'm....................I'm afraid.
Nash-Come on, let's get out of here. The conversation will pop out somehow along the way.
His words and the way he says it make me laugh and after a short laugh we leave together to speak.

Neil POV: Age - 38
I arrive to the school and getting down I go in to get my daughter. She's had some sort of accident so I'm picking her up from school early. As I go in I greet the director.
-Director.
?-Sir, how can I help you?
-I'm Neil. I'm here for Arezo Mahin.
?-Oh right. You're her dad. She's on the nurse's office.
-The infirmary?
?-She's alright but I have to inform you about it first. If you can have a seat please.
I take a seat and being already very worried I ask.
-What's wrong with her?
?-Nothing's wrong but this is hard for me to tell so I'm just going to say it flat, plain and simple.
-Go ahead.
She breathes deeply before saying it as she said she would.
?-She's on her period.
-Do you mean the, um, bleeding each month. That bleeding?
?-Menstruation, period. Yes, that's the one.
-Isn't that the, supposed to happen until two or three more years. I mean, after she's thirteen or fourteen.
?-That's the most common one but the female body can start her period as young as eight years old.
-How is she feeling?
?-She's scared, mostly. Ashamed because it was her language teacher who noticed it.
-Her friends?
?-Just the teacher but he's, he tried to explain it to her but I think he scared her more. I apologize for that.
-You let him be with her? How, in what universe another guy besides the father can be with a little girl when that happens.
?-That is why the female nurse is with her and why we called you to come and get her.
-Anything else?
?-The nurse is waiting for you.
I sigh and I go where she tells me to and I pass the nurse going directly towards my daughter. She's cuddled against one of the couches under a blanket and I sit across from her.
-Arezo?
She turns towards me before she hides deeper on the blanket. I sigh and look at the nurse before I look back at my daughter.
-Hey, Arezo, is alright. I'm here to help you. Just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you.
She speaks but is so soft that I can't hear her so I lean closer.
-Say it again.
Arezo-I'm not wearing anything under my skirt.
-Oh. Is alright. We can fix that so it doesn't happen again. Don't worry baby girl.
She makes a soft noise and getting up I look at the nurse.
-Sorry for my earlier disrespect.
?-Is alright. You're a father first.
-Hey, so, did you explained to her about what happened?
?-Just a brief explaining.
-And, do you think you can explain it to me?
She looks at me knowingly and I look away embarassed.
-You don't have to do it. Is just a dumb idea.
?-No is not but yes I will help you. I take it there's no mother, right?
-No. Is just her and me. Where is her backpack?
?-Still on the classroom. I'll show you where it is and you can get it.
I turn to my daughter and kissing her cheek I smile.
-Wait here baby girl. I'm going to get your stuff before we go home.
Arezo-Yes dad.
I kiss her forehead and follow the nurse to the classroom upstairs. She speaks as we go.
?-He's an exchange temporary teacher so he's a bit off for us but he's a good person.
-Exchange teacher? How so?
?-Well, he teaches linguistics in middle and high school. We have him today because is a monthly special class.
-What language he teaches?
?-French, Italian, Greek, Chinese and a few others I can't remember
-Sounds like an old guy but still a good person.
?-We're here. Excuse me, professor.
I look at the students in the classroom as they write their notes.
?-Arezo's dad came to get her things. If you can give them to him.
Teacher-Sure. Here they are. Sir?
Realizing is to me I turn to grab the things as I thank him but I end up dropping them as I recognize him.
-Thank............you?
Teacher-Neil.
?-You know each other?
Teacher-Yes.
-No. He's confusing me with someone else. Thanks for saving her things.
I pick them up and I get out to get my daughter and go home.

A bit after I get home I call my sisters to come and babysit my daughter while I calm down. In the end, both my sisters come with dad and he comes to me.
Mako-Hey. What happened?
-Perceptive dad I got.
Mako-Will you tell me?
-Is just that, at her school today, I know her teacher. Esteban is her teacher.
Mako-Esteban? The same one that didn't accept to marry you? That one?
-He does look slightly different but it was him. His voice, his eyes, his hair, his hands. I'm not sure if I wanted to strangle him or kiss him.
Mako-So you still love him.
-I think I do but I'm so confused. I don't know, anything.
I sigh shaking and trembling as I'm unable to sort out my feelings.
Mako-Hey, breathe, calm down.
He holds my shoulder and with a sharp movement I stand and screaming I push him out of my room.
-Go away. Leave me alone. I want to be alone.
I close the door on his face and locking it I fall to sit on the floor crying. Why does this have to happen to me. Why did he had to come back. Thirteen years and he still affects me like this. I never make it to the bed as I fall asleep crying on the floor.

To be continued........................