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.

was still in shock when

a comprehensive examination

injuries

her into my arms,

a moment later,

treated Atlas’s wounds and then took Ava into their

we finally

held Atlas’s neck and rested on

the doctor advised us to try and cheer her up and provide some counseling to prevent psychological

and the others were waiting when we

the way to the hospital,

Ava remained unresponsive and clung to Atlas like a

refused to return to her room as she gazed at everyone with vacant and watery

tighter as if he was her only

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

and lost demeanor

was my neglect that led my precious daughter

to sob and even refused

only remained calm and quiet in

to disturb her

phone rang incessantly, and I faintly Atlas gestured for everyone not to disturb her and continued to

rang incessantly, and I faintly overheard that there was

ran down my spine when! thought about how the man had escaped

he was desperate when he jumped from

deliberately taken Ava to the bridge, possibly planning to use her as a

regard for my daughter's life and

scene I would