1. Sadie

Aweek has passed since Jo has returned, and the light seems to be lifting slowly through the darkness that has clouded this family for years. I haven"t been able to see Elisa since she seems lost in her own world and wasn't ready to see anyone but her mother. She has her own darkness to sort through, and we're going to give her space to do that.

"What"s going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Donnie asks, breaking the comfortable silence between us. We sit side by side on the wooden bench, Sophia in her stroller, overlooking the lake"s calm waters, enjoying our sundaes. The sun attempts to beat down on us, but we"re protected by a canopy of trees, their leaves rustling softly.

As I turn my head to glance at Donnie, I feel an overwhelming sense of happiness having him in my life again. He has been a great source of support for Sophia and me. He helps me balance the positive and negative aspects of my life, which allows me to find some normalcy, just like today. Considering all he"s been through, it"s amazing how he"s been able to do this for me.

He"s never brought it up. I know better than anyone what happens to you when you hold things in for too long.

My thoughts begin to spiral in a dizzying whirlwind from worry about Donnie. He always puts on a brave face, never letting anyone see the turmoil brewing inside him. From personal experience, I know bottling up emotions can have serious consequences. I wish he would take his own advice and confide in someone who can help him unburden himself.

Even if that person isn't me.

"How are you doing? We never really talked about what happened with all the—" I begin, but Donnie cuts me off.

"I"m good, babe. I promise I"m good," he reassures me. He leans in and gives me a quick peck on the lips, then turns his attention back to Sophia. Her little hands clapping with excitement as he feeds her a spoonful of ice cream. Her legs kick up a storm, and she babbles happily.

If our roles were reversed, I don"t believe I would have the emotional capacity to handle watching the torture on repeat the moment I close my eyes. Perhaps he does a better job of separating his emotions and thoughts. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

My contentment is abruptly shattered when he interjects, his tone grave and serious, "Shorty, we should talk about me leaving soon," he says. "I was waiting for the right time to talk to you about it, but it doesn"t look like that will happen anytime soon," he adds.

A heavy cloud of sadness settles over my heart. I hold onto every moment, not wanting them to slip away, knowing Donnie will soon leave for Tennessee. The weight of that impending separation hangs heavily in the air, casting a shadow over our time together.

I gaze out at the water and let out a sigh. "Yeah, I guess we should, huh?" I say, trying to mask the sadness in my voice.

"We'll make the distance work, and we'll talk every day," he promises.

As much as it breaks my heart to see him leave, I can"t help but feel immensely proud of him for taking this step toward his dreams. I want the best for him and wholeheartedly support his decision to pursue his passions, even if it means we will be miles away.

"Yeah, that"s true," I respond with a heavy heart. The pain feels just like it did when I was six, chasing him down the street when he moved away.

Donnie, picking up on my mood, responds with a playful tone. "But?"

I can"t help but admit the truth, no matter how painful it is to utter the words out loud. "It freaking sucks."

Donnie"s lips curve into a smile, but it is delicate and unsteady. It feels like we are connected by our shared pain, a deep understanding that doesn't need words.

Donnie places Sophia"s now-empty bowl beside him on the bench. Sophia"s big, round eyes look up at Donnie as she stretches out her tiny hands, her fingers opening and closing. She lets out a soft whine, wanting more.

He chuckles as he wipes her mouth with a napkin, saying, "Baby girl, it's all gone. You ate it all." He reaches for the diaper bag and pulls out a juice bottle. She quickly leans back once he hands it over and then starts drinking her juice.

Donnie puts his arm around me and holds me tightly and buries his head in my hair. "I'm going to miss you too, Shorty, every second of the day, and I want to feel you every minute that goes by," he murmurs, his voice filled with sincerity. Then he pulls away and I look at him. "But know this, Shorty," he continues. "No amount of distance is going to change the love I have for you. It will always burn bright and strong, no matter where we are."

"Like being underneath the same stars," I murmur softly, and my eyes begin tearing up.

"Yeah, like being underneath the same stars."

I lay my head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his words seep into me. After being kept apart for eight years, the stars aligned, bringing Donnie and me back together. However, now we must face another separation, but this time, it is our choice. I can handle his absence, and the thought that I might never see him again no longer haunts me.

Donnie tightens his hold on me as if he knows the impending separation will bring me unbearable pain.

"Come on." His hands gently cup each of my cheeks, and he leans in to press his cold lips against my forehead, leaving a soft, lingering kiss.

I look up at him, asking, "I don't want to move," I whine. "Where are we going?" I have been feeling exhausted lately, and my pregnancy only adds to my exhaustion. The past few weeks have been leaving me feeling completely drained.

"Just get up, woman," he chastises in a playful tone.

He gathers our empty bowls and throws them in the trash bin. He then secures Sophia in her stroller. He grabs my hand with his free hand, and we walk along the path through the trees. We finally stop at the spray fountain. Sophia immediately spots it and lets out a cry of excitement.

"Yeah, I know." Donnie chuckles at her reaction.

My heart fills with warmth, and butterflies flutter in my stomach as I watch Donnie treat Sophia as if she is his.

We sit on a nearby bench and watch other children and their parents jumping through the fountain, their joyful screams and laughter filling the air.

Donnie scoops up my daughter from her stroller, and she excitedly wiggles out of his grasp, eager to join in. Donnie hoists her up and jumps into the fountain with her, splashing around and giggling like a kid himself. He looks at me with a wide grin and yells, "Are you going to join us or what?"

I hesitate, not wanting to get my curls wet. If I do, I"ll walk out of here looking like a frizz ball. But the happiness spread across Sophia"s and Donnie"s faces is too hard to say no to. So I go over to them while Sophia continues to shout. Donnie pulls me in without warning, and I"m completely soaked within seconds.

"Donnie! You son of—"

The sexy jerk just laughs.

But I can't help but laugh too.

The sun beats down on us, and the fountain's refreshing water cools us off. We take turns chasing each other, splashing around, and then sit on a nearby bench once we're worn out.

Donnie reaches behind the stroller and pulls out two fluffy towels. He wraps one around Sophia and hands the other to me. The soft fabric feels warm against my skin, and a smile spreads across my face at Donnie"s thoughtfulness.

"You planned this?" I ask, not surprised.

He says nothing, but his mischievous smirk tells me everything I need to know.

"What about you?" I ask, wrapping the towel around myself.

"Don"t worry about me. The sun will dry me off," Donnie says with a wink. He sets Sophia on his lap, and she leans back and soon falls asleep.

"You okay?" he asks, wrapping his arm around me and holding onto Sophia with the other.

"Yeah, I"m good," I reply, resting my head on his chest near his heart. I feel its steady rhythm and sense his heartbeat start to slow down.

"And you?" I ask.

"I"m good," he says. I can hear a smile in his voice. I look up at him, and we stare at each other until finally, he gives in and leans in to kiss me, his lips moving slowly and sensually, his tongue twirling around mine.

I am overcome with the sensation of being deeply loved by Donnie. It"s like a warm, comforting hug that envelops me and fills me up from the inside out. I feel as though I am floating on a cloud, weightless and carefree. The white noise that once kept me tossing and turning at night has been replaced by a soothing hum, a constant reminder of the deep and abiding love that surrounds me.

The definition of Donnie"s love can be defined as:

He accepts me for who I am and loves all my broken pieces because they"re the most beautiful.

Every step of the way, he is the guiding star that illuminates the darkest corners of your life, leading you toward a brighter and more fulfilling existence.

He is like a protective mitt, catching all the blows and punches that life throws at you before they can knock you out.

Donnie is the definition of perfection. His love is my refuge, a safe haven to retreat to when the world becomes too much to handle.

Being loved by Donnie is a precious and priceless gift.

Our love is unbreakable, and our hearts will always stay connected, regardless of any physical separation.

But this is just the beginning of our journey. We know that many more adventures are to come, new stories waiting to be written. For now, we revel in the joy of the present, feeling alive and free.