Chapter 33 His Voice
924 Words
The house was quiet.
Emma slept in her crib, a small blanket tucked around her tiny shoulders. The soft hum of the night filtered through the windows. Lily sat cross-legged on the couch, phone clutched in her hand, staring at the screen.
The screen had been silent for days. She had sent him the photo and the message the night Emma was born — She’s here. Seven pounds, two ounces. She has your eyes.
No reply.
Not even a short acknowledgment.
Her thumb hovered over the phone, hesitating again and again. She hadn’t texted. She hadn’t called. She didn’t want to sound desperate. Or weak. Or—
The screen lit up suddenly.
A message notification.
Her heart stuttered.
But it wasn’t a text.
It was a video call.
Ethan.
Her breath caught.
She stared at the tiny image on the screen. His face. Tired. Sunburned. Rough from days without rest. Eyes wide. Hands shaking slightly as he held the phone.
“Lily,” he whispered, voice cracking even before she spoke.
“Ethan,” she breathed, unable to move.
“I… I got your message. The photo.” His voice trembled. “I saw her. I—oh God, I can’t—”
The words choked off in a sob. He pressed his hand to his mouth, swallowed, and blinked rapidly.
Lily’s own chest tightened. Her hands shook, but this time from something else entirely. Relief. Fear. Overwhelming love.
“She’s okay,” Lily whispered softly, lifting Emma slightly from the crib so he could see. “She’s healthy. She’s beautiful. She’s…”
“She’s amazing,” Ethan interrupted, his voice catching again. “I can’t believe… I can’t believe she’s really here. I—”
His breathing hitched.
He was crying.
Lily had never heard him cry like this. Not when he left. Not when he was scared about enlisting. Not when he was far away, lost in memories of his own father.
Never like this.
“I’m here,” she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’m right here. And she’s right here. We’re okay.”
“I can’t… I’m so sorry,” he gasped. “I should’ve—Lily, I should’ve been there. I should’ve told you… I shouldn’t have left.”
“You didn’t know,” Lily said quietly. “You were trying to do what you thought was best. But—she’s here now. And we’re surviving. Together.”
Ethan pressed his free hand against his forehead. His voice was barely audible. “I can’t believe I missed her first kick… I can’t believe I missed the birth…”
“It’s okay,” Lily said softly. “It’s not your fault. You can still be her dad. You can still be here for her. She needs you. And so do I.”
He blinked rapidly, swallowing hard, voice shaking. “I want to. I need to. I don’t care about the distance. I’ll do anything. I just… I just needed to see her. Needed to hear your voice.”
Lily’s tears flowed freely now. She couldn’t stop them. The fear. The longing. The anger. Everything she had carried alone for months crashed out in a tide of emotion.
“You can’t imagine how hard it’s been,” she admitted. “Every day, I’ve had to pretend I’m fine, even when I wasn’t. I’ve cried in the shower. I’ve… I’ve wanted you here so badly.”
“I know,” Ethan whispered, voice breaking. “I know I failed you. I know I left you alone. I hate myself for it.”
“You’re here now,” Lily said, her voice steadier. “That’s what matters.”
Ethan nodded, tears streaming freely now. “I love you. I love both of you. I… I just want to be part of this. I want to see her grow up. I want to help. I want… I want everything.”
Lily smiled softly through the tears. “Then start by being honest with her. With me. You can’t make up for the time you missed. But you can be here now. That’s enough.”
“I’ll do it,” he whispered, determination and vulnerability mixing in his voice. “I swear I will. I don’t care how hard. I just… I just want to hold her. I want to hold you.”
“You will,” Lily said softly, touching Emma’s tiny hand against the screen so he could see it. “Soon. We’ll figure it out. Together.”
For a long moment, they were silent except for the sound of their breathing and the faint, soft rhythm of Emma’s sleep.
Then Ethan spoke again, voice almost a whisper: “She’s perfect. She really is. Just like you said.”
Lily felt warmth rise in her chest. Relief. Joy. A sense of peace she hadn’t allowed herself in months.
“She’s ours,” she said softly. “All of ours.”
“I love you,” Ethan said again. His lips trembled. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to show you that every day.”
Lily wiped at her tears and smiled. “I believe you.”
And in that moment, with Emma asleep beside her, Ethan crying softly on the screen, and her own tears streaming freely, Lily felt the weight of the months lift slightly.
They weren’t perfect. They had lost time. They had mistakes. They had pain.
But for the first time in a long time…
They had each other.
And that was enough to start healing.
- Writer
