Chapter 7 - THE DAY LUCA CRIED
Luca cried on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
It began with a song.
Maria had been cleaning the kitchen when an old recording played from the radio.
Catherine's favorite song.
A soft melody she'd sung while cooking.
Luca froze.
He stood near the doorway.
Then his face changed.
His eyes filled.
Maria turned off the radio.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
But the tears had already started.
Luca ran upstairs.
He locked himself in his room.
Vincent followed.
“Luca?”
No answer.
He knocked.
“Buddy?”
Nothing.
Emily was visiting that afternoon.
She stood beside Vincent.
“Give him a minute.”
Vincent looked at her.
“He's crying.”
“I know.”
“I need to help.”
She nodded.
“You can. But he might need space first.”
They waited.
After several minutes, Emily sat outside the door.
She placed a sheet of paper on the floor.
Then drew a small green dragon.
She slid it beneath the door.
A moment later, the paper came back.
The dragon had tears.
Emily's throat tightened.
She took another crayon.
She drew a second dragon sitting beside the first.
Then slid it back.
The paper returned.
This time, the two dragons were holding hands.
Vincent watched.
His eyes filled.
Emily looked at him.
“Would you like to draw one?”
He nodded.
He drew a third dragon.
Large.
Clumsy.
With enormous wings.
He slid it beneath the door.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
Then the lock clicked.
Luca opened the door.
His face was wet.
He looked at his father.
Vincent knelt.
“I'm here.”
Luca stepped forward.
Then threw his arms around him.
Vincent held his son.
The boy sobbed against his chest.
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And for the first time, Vincent didn't try to stop the tears.
He simply held him.
