The girls didn’t dare breathe loudly. Sofía turned her face, tears glimmering, afraid not for herself, but at the thought of losing the father who had always been their protector.
The woman stayed in the corner, silent but anxious. Chema noticed her exhausted yet hopeful expression. The trust he had placed in her had produced a tangible truth before everyone’s eyes.
The court ruled Chema innocent. Relief washed over him, but he understood that the struggle had left deep scars. He had faced helplessness, humiliation, and the terror of losing everything he cared about.
Stepping out of the courtroom, the sunlight felt real but not entirely warm. The world went on as usual, but his mind echoed with the tension and fear that had gripped him for hours.
His daughters ran to him, embracing him tightly. Sofía leaned against his chest, Valeria sobbed into his shoulder, Lucía clung to his legs. He felt love, but also the lingering marks left by the ordeal.
