Too late Ex! I found my Mr. Right.

Aria's POV.

The living room glowed softly under the fairy lights Aria had strung across the ceiling that evening.

A small strawberry cake sat in the middle of the dining table, lopsided, with two candles flickering brightly.

Laura tugged at Aria's skirt, pointing toward the direction of the balloons.

"Yaaay! Pwetty!" 

She squealed. Luca toddled over, clutching a stuffed bear, eyes wide as he stared at the door. 

"Mama! Is papa not coming?"

Aria curled her fingers into a fist.

She tried to smile, not to disclose the disappointment already burning inside of her.

Andrea had promised to make time today for the kids' birthday.

Even if she looked worried, she didn't really take it to heart.

She had been the only one doing that role as a parent. 

Luca and Laura weren't old enough, but they were sharp and sensitive.

She had gotten home early to make sure she made arrangements for the birthday.

The last birthday the kids celebrated, he wasn't there, and he didn't bother to talk about it.

It passed, just like that. 

They didn't argue about it, she had always been considerate toward him.

The pain she felt every day was lesser than the one she had felt today.

Midnight approached and still no sign of his arrival.

Luca and Laura were already nodding their heads to sleep, almost falling from their seats.

Luca grabbed his mother's shirt, blinking his sleepy eyes at her.

"Mama, can we cut the cake now?" 

Laura was already half way asleep.

She checked her screen again, 12:30. a.m. Andrea didn't show any sign of arrival.

It didn't matter anymore. He already gave them a response by staying silent.

She swallowed hard and nodded, forcing her voice to be calm.

"Yes, baby. We can cut it now."

Aria stood, lifting Laura into her arms. Her head fell against her shoulder as she breathed slowly.

Luca climbed onto the chair, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

His eyes never left the door, not for a fleeting second.

Aria placed a knife at the middle of the cake as her hand vibrated slightly.

The candles were almost burned out now, dripping wax on the cake.

"Do you want to make a wish, honey?" Aria whispered.

Luca closed his eyes, his lips moved soundlessly.

Aria didn't bother to close, she already knew that making a wish was a waste of time. It wouldn't change anything. 

She blew out the candles for them.

The room felt heavy after that. It felt empty and cold.

As if it was mocking the wound she carried in her chest.

Aria carefully cut out a small slice for Luca, making sure she didn't wake Laura.

Luca ate slowly, crumbs sticked to his lips as sleep finally took him.

He leaned to Aria's side, she wrapped her arm around him, breathing in a familiar scent of baby soap.

By the time she put them into bed, it was almost one in the morning.

She sat slowly