Mara's Pov

The reunion with my father was a blur of tears, shaky breaths, and a million questions that tumbled out of me all at once. I sat beside him on the sofa, clutching his hand as if he might vanish if I let go. He answered everything, his voice calm, his eyes reflecting a peace I hadn't seen in him for years.

"It’s alright, Mara," he said, pulling me into a firm embrace. "You don't have to keep crying like a baby. I'm her, aren't I? I’ll explain everything just like you want."

I nodded, my tears slowing as the reality of his presence anchored me. Every sound in...