"But I had to move on, too," Joseph said, his voice softening. "And I believe your mother, Yukio, has as well. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still love her. I would give up my life for her any day, at any time. Even when we’re not together, I’d still sacrifice so much for her."
Joseph's words were imbued with warmth, his heart bared.
"Do you really mean that?" Josephine asked, her voice trembling, a tear slipping down her cheek. She didn’t look at him, but Joseph’s response was unwavering.
"Yes, I mean it."
A relieved sigh escaped Josephine as she wiped her eyes, and for a moment, silence filled the air between them. The weight of the years apart seemed to ease in that instant. Then Joseph, ever the father, changed the subject, asking her why she had come.
"I wanted to see you," she answered, her voice steady now, "After all these years."