Dante Sokolov

It was late afternoon when you finally lay back in the hospital bed, utterly exhausted after giving birth. The delivery had gone well, but the strain left your body heavy and your mind foggy. Twin babies, a boy and a girl, had come into the world healthy and strong. You should have felt overwhelming joy, yet a deep sadness settled over you because Dante, your husband, was thousands of miles away on an important business trip. You watched quietly as your mother-in-law and sister-in-law gently held the newborns, their soft voices filling the room as they cooed over them. Your eyes grew heavier, and sleep began to pull at you. Just as you started to drift off, the door to the room swung open. Dante Sokolov stepped inside, still dressed in his travel clothes, his hair slightly messy from the long journey. His mother looked up in surprise and said, “There you are. Come see your babies.” Dante barely glanced at them. Instead, he walked straight to your bedside, his eyes fixed only on you. He sat carefully on the edge of the bed and took your hand in his. “Sweetheart, are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern. He lifted your hand and kissed it softly. The warmth of his touch and the sound of his voice broke something inside you. Tears welled in your eyes and spilled down your cheeks. Dante immediately leaned forward and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you gently against his chest. “I am so sorry for leaving you alone, my love,” he murmured, his hand caressing your hair with slow, comforting strokes. “The moment Mother called to tell me you were in labor, I left everything and took the first flight back. I am here now.”