Chapter 28 - Mateo's First Words
The victory at the appellate court lifted a massive, invisible weight from my shoulders. Life returned to a joyful, vibrant rhythm. Mateo was growing rapidly, a whirlwind of energy and curiosity.
One Sunday afternoon, we were in the living room. My father was sitting in his armchair, reading the newspaper, while I sat on the rug building a tower out of brightly colored wooden blocks with Mateo.
"Okay, Mateo," I smiled, holding up a red block. "Where does this one go?"
Mateo grabbed the block in his chubby little hand and smashed it against the tower, sending the wooden pieces clattering across the floor. He threw his head back and laughed a pure, infectious sound.
"You are a little hurricane, you know that?" I laughed, pulling him into my lap and tickling his ribs.
He squirmed, giggling uncontrollably. Then, he stopped, looked up at me with his big, dark eyes, and placed his small hands on my cheeks.
"Mama," he said clearly.
The entire room went still. My father lowered his newspaper, his eyes wide.
"What did you say, mi amor?" I whispered, tears instantly springing to my eyes.
"Mama! Mama!" Mateo repeated, clapping his hands excitedly.
I pulled him tight against my chest, sobbing tears of absolute, unfiltered joy. They were his first true, intentional words.
My father walked over, kneeling beside us on the rug, wrapping his arms around both of us.
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"He knows who his protector is," my father said softly, kissing the top of Mateo's head.
I held my son, listening to him babble happily. Diego had wanted to take this from me. He had wanted to leave me voiceless in the dark. But now, my son was speaking, his voice ringing loud and clear in a house filled with nothing but love and safety.
