I walked up to her, my heart pounding. “Lisa?” I said her name for the first time in years.
She froze, and for a moment, she didn’t say anything. Then, she looked up and recognized me. “Bryan?” she whispered.
My mind was racing. I could hardly believe it. After all this time, she was standing right in front of me.
“Where have you been?” I asked. “Why did you leave?”
Her face softened, and she looked around, clearly unsure of how to explain.
“I… I know I owe you an explanation,” she said. “But I need you to understand, I was scared. I wasn’t ready for everything—being a mother, being a wife. I felt like I couldn’t give you and Noah what you deserved.”
I was angry, but I took a deep breath. “You didn’t just leave us, Lisa. You disappeared without a word. Do you know what I went through? Do you know what Noah went through?”
She paused, tears welling up in her eyes. “I know. And I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how to cope with everything, and I thought I was doing what was best for everyone. I thought I could get myself together and come back when I was ready.”
“Where did you go?” I asked.
“I went to Europe,” she explained. “My parents helped me leave. They didn’t think you and I were a good match, and they didn’t want me to stay in that life.”
Her words stung. I’d never imagined that her parents had been involved in all this.
“I got a job,” she continued. “I started a new life. I wanted to come back, but I didn’t feel like I could show up empty-handed. Now, I’ve built a career, and I have a lot more to offer.”
I looked at her, trying to process what she was saying. “So now that you’ve got money, you think that makes up for everything?”
“No,” she said, her voice shaking. “I don’t think money can fix everything, but I wanted to be able to give Noah something—something better.”
I shook my head. “You don’t get to come back and change everything, Lisa. You missed out on so many years. I’ve raised Noah, and we’ve moved on.”
“I just want to see him,” she said softly. “Please, just let me see him.”
I didn’t answer right away. I thought about everything that had happened, all the nights I stayed up, all the sacrifices I made for Noah. And I realized, I didn’t need her to complete our family anymore.
“I’m sorry, Lisa,” I said. “Noah and I have made it this far without you, and we’re okay.”
I turned and walked away, not looking back.
She called after me, but I didn’t stop.
I had given my all to Noah, and that was enough.