Chapter 15 - THE MORNING SHE CHOSE TO STAY
Their wedding was held in the community garden.
Small.
Quiet.
Beautiful.
Sadi wore a simple ivory dress.
Toby attended with his girlfriend.
Miriam sat in the front row.
And a photograph of Leila Rahman rested beside the flowers.
Roman stood beneath an arch of pink carnations.
When Sadi approached, his eyes filled.
She smiled.
“Don't cry.”
He laughed.
“Too late.”
They exchanged vows.
Roman promised to respect her choices.
Sadi promised to tell him the truth even when it was difficult.
And when the officiant pronounced them husband and wife, Roman kissed her gently.
### FIVE YEARS LATER
The kitchen was filled with morning sunlight.
Sadi stood beside the counter, arranging flowers.
Her four-year-old daughter, Leila, sat at the table coloring.
Her two-year-old son, Adam, was attempting to steal a cookie.
Roman entered wearing a dark sweater.
He kissed Sadi's cheek.
“Morning.”
She smiled.
“Morning.”
He glanced at the vase.
Pink carnations.
He stopped.
Then laughed softly.
“Still your favorite?”
Sadi nodded.
“Always.”
Roman wrapped his arms around her.
Their daughter looked up.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, princess?”
“Why does Mommy like those flowers?”
Roman smiled.
He looked at Sadi.
Then answered.
“Because someone gave her flowers when she needed kindness.”
Leila considered that.
Then asked, “Can I give Mommy flowers too?”
Sadi laughed.
“Of course.”
Leila ran into the garden.
Roman kissed Sadi's forehead.
“Happy?”
She looked around.
Their children.
Their home.
The life they'd built.
Then she smiled.
“Very.”
Roman nodded.
“Good.”
For a moment, he remembered the kitchen at two in the morning.
The rain.
The flowers.
The fear in Sadi's eyes.
He'd thought love meant keeping someone close.
Now he knew better.
Love meant making a life where someone wanted to stay.
And Sadi had chosen him.
May you like
Not because she had to.
But because she wanted to.
