Chapter 4: The Night the Father Stopped Asking Permission
The daughters were still in the dining room.
Waiting.
Not eating anymore.
Just waiting for the atmosphere to decide what kind of world they were in.
When Alejandro returned, he did not bring explanations.
He brought groceries.
Warm food.
Milk.
Bread that was not moldy.
Valeria hesitated.
“We’re allowed?”
Alejandro nodded.
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Always.”
Camila cried quietly while eating.
Not because of sadness.
Because her body didn’t trust food anymore.
Sofía stayed close to him the entire time.
As if proximity itself was permission.
Behind them, Jimena entered again.
But the room no longer reacted to her presence the same way.
Something had shifted.
Authority was no longer automatic.
It was being questioned.
“You’re undoing everything,” she said.
Alejandro didn’t look at her.
“No,” he replied.
“I’m restoring it.”
Jimena stepped forward.
“You will ruin their structure.”
Alejandro turned slowly.
“They don’t need your structure,” he said.
“They need to be children.”
That word landed heavily.
Children.
Not projects.
Not systems.
Not investments.
Jimena’s voice dropped.
“You’ll regret this.”
Alejandro looked at his daughters.
Then said:
“No.”
May you like
A pause.
“They will never regret being safe.”
