89

Gael

Seven years later...

Every passing day convinces me that I was a fool. Remembering that I was once an arrogant man, equally tough on myself, everything, and everyone around me, makes me realize that I wasted a lot of time licking my wounds and covering my eyes to see only what I allowed myself to see. For this reason, my universe changed course in a radical and painful way. I had to face fear head-on. I had to endure the cold that nearly froze my bones and the storms that almost destroyed me to get here. I reflect as I watch the preparations for my youngest daughter's fifth birthday party.

"Grandma? Grandma?" Donna shouts with her infectious childlike enthusiasm, and the twins run in the same direction as her, snapping me out of my reverie.

That's exactly what you're understanding. We had another daughter over the years, and what a surprise it was when my beautiful wife named her after my mother. Donna D'Angelo, our little princess. The funniest thing about all this is that Lis,