The road back to that old town, the place where it all began, was not easy for Ana. Not because of the distance, but because of the weight of the memories she carried with her. The house was still there, although more deteriorated than ever, as if time had decided to punish its walls for everything they hid.
He had waited for this moment for years. He imagined it in a thousand ways: with anger, with screams, with tears. But now that he was standing in front of the door of his childhood, the only thing he felt was a knot in his chest.
Her father opened the door without surprise. As if he was expecting her.
-So you're back," he said, his voice hoarse and muffled.
Ana looked at him. He was no longer the imposing man who had dominated her childhood with blows and silences. He was a worn old man, his eyes dull and his soul hanging by a thread.
He entered without asking permission. He didn't need to ask. That house was also his prison, and he had returned to break the last chains.
-I want the truth," he said, bluntly. You have no more power over me. You can't hurt me anymore. But I need to know... why did you do it?
The man did not answer immediately. He walked to sit in the chair where he had so often ignored her, humiliated her, condemned her.
-Because I had no other way out," he muttered. Because Viktoria made me believe that if I didn't turn you in... we'd all end up worse off.
Anne frowned.
-Worse than selling your daughter?
-She knew things. She had photos, documents... proof. She threatened to take me down. To imprison me. To destroy everything. I..." Her voice broke for the first time, "I was weak.
-You were not weak," Anne corrected in an icy voice. You were a coward.
The silence became unbearable.
-They offered me money," he continued. And something else... protection. For your brothers. For your mother. They made me believe you'd be all right. That you would live better.
Ana clenched her fists. She didn't know what hurt more: the truth... or the way he was disguising it as a sacrifice.
-You never thought about me," she whispered. You never asked me if I wanted to. You gave me away like I was worthless.
The man lowered his head. For the first time, he looked truly defeated.
-I look at you now... and I don't know if you were right to survive. Not because of you, but because this world... this damn world doesn't forgive those who dare to stand up.
Ana came closer. She looked him straight in the eyes, as she had never dared before.
-I didn't need you to save me. I just needed you to love me. But because you didn't... I learned to save myself.
She turned her back on him and walked toward the door.
-Ana," her father called to her in a broken voice, "Can you... forgive me?
She stopped. Her heart beat like a wounded drum.
-Not today," he answered. But someday...maybe. When your lies stop hurting.
And without turning around, she left that house. A part of her was left behind, yes. But the most important thing... was that she no longer belonged to him.