The man stood still, staring at her face. Her features seemed vaguely familiar — and then the memory hit him like a bolt of lightning.

— Julia?.. Is that you?

She nodded slightly, lowering her gaze.

— I thought you were gone forever — his voice wavered.

— I wasn’t given a chance… — she said softly.

He looked at her in disbelief. After all these years — there she was. And next to her — a little girl whose face suddenly seemed far too familiar…

— You just left. No note, no explanation.

— I wanted to tell you everything, but… my parents were against it. They believed you were only with me for money. Said you were a nobody. That you were using me. And I… I was scared. I was only 22.

He was silent. His head was spinning.

— So you just disappeared?

She nodded, holding back tears:

— Yes. But I loved you. I looked at your photo every day. And Miranda…

He looked at the girl. And suddenly, everything made sense. The eyes. The chin. The smile.

He slowly knelt down and said:

— Hi, Miranda…

The girl hesitated, then gave a shy smile and hugged him. And Julia stood in the doorway, hands covering her face, trembling with emotion.

So many years have passed… but maybe fate decided that not everything is lost.