Beyond the Divorce

Ava continued to sob as the car sped toward the hospital.She clutched Atlas’s shirt, afraid he would disappear if she let go.She gazed at him and could hardly breathe from crying so much.

I felt my heart shatter as her cries rendered me speechless.

My daughter had always been well-behaved and had never cried so hard before.

She kept shaking her head and repeating, "No!"

no matter how much I tend to comfort her.

Atlas held her and assured her, "I’m here now, so you don't need to be afraid anymore.Ava, look at me.I won't let you go, okay?"

I was in disbelief at the usually commanding Atlas being so tender and protective toward my daughter.

Although I was there, he showed no intention of letting her go.

Instead, he continued to soothe and hold her.

His usually indifferent expression now bore a look of fatherly love.

It filled me with gratitude and a sense of security.

My daughter hadn’t felt a dad's love for so long, making me feel guilty.

However, Atlas filled that gap in her heart even though he wasn’t her dad.

I felt moved as I leaned on Atlas’s shoulder.

I silently shed tears as I looked at Ava’s terrified expression.

still in shock when we reached the

comprehensive

she had no physical injuries and only suffered extreme

into my arms, and she clung

Atlas a moment later, making me

treated Atlas’s wounds and then took Ava into their

much effort, we finally

neck and rested on his

to try and cheer her

parents and the others were waiting when we returned to Amethyst

our safety on the way to

Ava remained unresponsive and clung to Atlas like

her room as she gazed at everyone

grasped Atlas even tighter as if he was her only safe

knew she must be afraid someone would take her I knew she must be

and lost demeanor broke my

it was my neglect that led my precious daughter to

sob and even

calm and quiet in Atlas’s

everyone not to disturb her and continued to stroke her

gestured for everyone not to

and I faintly overheard that there was no trace of the man who had jumped into the

chill ran down my spine when! thought about how the

knew he was desperate when he jumped from that

possibly planning to use her

regard for my daughter's life and threw

scene I would never