My father went pale.

“Are you abandoning your family over a minor argument?” “No,” I said, taking Rafael’s warm hand in mine.

“I walked away from you years ago.

You’re just finally noticing tonight.”

Rafael looked down at me.

“Ready to leave, sweetheart?” I nodded.

As we turned toward the exit, my father called out one last time, his voice laced with bitter desperation.

“Noelle!