It was no longer the firm voice of the proud man he remembered.
It was the voice of someone who had been living with guilt for too long.
—During the first few months we thought that, when everything was over, we would talk to you.
My mother added:
—But time passed… and each day it became more difficult for us to face what had happened.
I didn’t understand.
-Difficult?
My mother nodded.
—We felt ashamed.
He lowered his gaze.
—We were wrong about you. When we learned you were struggling to get ahead on your own, we wanted to find you many times… but we no longer knew how.
Tears filled her eyes again.
—We thought you would never forgive us.
I looked at Sofia.
She remained completely motionless.
Suddenly he spoke.
-So…
He paused.
—Is Valentina… my twin sister?
No one answered.
It wasn’t necessary.
The answer was written on our faces.
