“I don’t know if I can give you the life you deserve.”
Rachel nodded slowly.
“That’s not what I asked.”
She moved away three months later.
We stayed in touch for a while.
Then life happened.
Eventually, even the birthday messages stopped.
I told myself it was for the best.
For years, I almost believed it.
The triplets grew up.
College applications arrived.
Then acceptance letters.
Somehow, all three received scholarships to the same state university.
I cried when they left home.
Brooke took a picture.
“Dad, this is definitely going online.”
“If you post that, I’m changing the locks.”
“You cried when we got our first library cards.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“It was an emotional day.”
“You cried when Sophie learned to parallel park.”
“That was terror.”
They laughed.
I stood beside the car while they packed the last boxes.
For a second, I saw three baby carriers lined up outside my apartment again.
