Page 25 of One More Chance
I nodded, my heart aching because I already had. In my previous life, Liam had clung to that band like a lifeline: angsty, bitter lyrics shouting about broken families and lost futures. It was the soundtrack to his downfall, a reflection of everything I failed to protect him from: drugs, crime, prison sentences.
The truth was, I had failed him. Over and over. He’d been a kid once, before the constant indifference and carelessness of the narcissistic asshole that was Old Me broke him. A lengthy series of reckless decisions led to a version of Liam I couldn’t recognize anymore… and Old Me had stood there, barely watching, aggressively pretending he wasn’t the cause or catalyst for any of it.
This time, I would do better. This time, I’d be different. I refused to make the same mistakes Old Me had made. I wanted to be there for him, hear those songs with him, hold his hand, and show him that not all families are beyond repair... that we could heal together.
I watched Liam for a moment, trying to read the way his eyes shifted and listen to everything he didn’t say. He was too damn much like me. I could see the walls he’d built around himself; walls I had no idea how to break down.
“I'd love to,” I said, “Maybe you’ll show me a few of their newer songs? I can take a look at tour dates."
Liam nodded. "Only if you aren't too busy."
I leaned back, trying to hide the ache that had taken root in my chest. I loved him so much it burned. I was grateful, maybe even to the point of madness, for the cruel twist of fate that brought me back and gave me this opportunity. Being here with him, with all of them... it was the only thing that mattered anymore.
But even as I had that thought, I felt the weight of it, the suffocating responsibility of fixing a broken past.
“Of course," I said with a nod. " I'll make as much free time as you need me to. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
Liam stared at me for what felt like an eternity. His gaze searched for something in my face, some proof, I was being honest. I kept my expression as neutral as I could while he studied me.
An irrational part of my mind feared that being haunted by the specter of knowledge would show. That Liam could see in my eyes the memories of a life unlived, of twelve years of horror, of a future already unfolded.
“Why?” he asked. His voice was low and hesitant, as if he was afraid to push too hard.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out at first. Honesty is best here Levi. “Because I don’t want to give up on this,” I said, gesturing to the empty space between us. “On you. On Violet. On Mom. I know I fucked up, Liam. But I’m still here. And I promise to continue to do everything that I can to be a better father… a better person. For all of you.”
We sat quiet for a moment before the door creaked and Violet poked her head in. Her usual excitement lit up her face as her eyes flitted between me and Liam. “Hey, Daddy," she said, "can we work on my project now?" Her voice, high and bubbly, hit me like a wave.
“I’d love to, baby girl,” I said, standing up to ruffle her hair. She giggled, the sweet sound contagious and I couldn't help but smile back.
Liam rolled over on his bed, his eyes flicking to me for a second before he grabbed his phone from the nightstand. He didn’t say anything more. But Violet? She bounced off to her project in a flash. I watched her skip down the hall, the innocence of a child still untainted by the mess I’d made of everything.
I followed her to the dining room where she’d set up her project, an elaborate display of graphs and diagrams she’d clearly put a lot of effort into. There were colored charts and tiny plastic models lined up, each one artfully crafted. She had an intense fire in her eyes, the same one that made me fall in love with her mom before Sloane had ever spoken a word.
“Is Liam okay?” she asked.
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure myself. “Yeah. He’s got a lot on his mind, but he's okay.”
Violet beamed. “I’m glad. We’re a family again, right?”
“Yeah. We’re a family again.” I said it with all the certainty I could muster, but even I wasn’t sure if it was true yet.
Violet bounced over to the table, “I was thinking I could make a cool display with glitter for the solar system! Then I have to show volcanos over here in this other project,” she said, her little hands working quickly to arrange the planets and plaster figures.
“Sounds awesome,” I said, pulling up a chair next to her. I wanted to feel like me again, like the dad who would’ve done this without hesitation. The dad who didn’t walk out. I cleared my throat, unsure how to tread through the waters. “Hey, kiddo, what’s your favorite planet?”
She looked up at me, eyes wide, then burst into a smile. “It’s gotta be Mars! It’s so red and… fiery! Almost like a volcano.” She paused for a second, her face turning more thoughtful. “Why?”
I shrugged, giving her a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Just wondering. We’re a team now, right? You think we can make these projects amazing?”
"Uh, obviously! I've got the best Daddy ever!" Her excitement was enough to pull me back in, back to the feeling of purpose I used to have.
I helped her arrange the planets while she talked, asking me about different colors she could use and if I could help her with the measurements for the presentation. And though I answered as best as I could, part of me was distracted, wondering if this was enough. If my presence, even now, could begin to heal the cracks in her perception of me. Would she look back at this moment and remember that I tried? Or would she remember the time I wasn’t around?
As Violet put the finishing touches on her volcano, I sat beside her, my hands restless, my mind stuck in a loop I couldn’t cease. There was a question that had been burning inside me ever since I woke up in this new life, and I had to ask it. I kept my voice casual, even as my pulse drummed violently against my ribs.
“Hey, Violet… have you been playing any online games lately?”
She didn’t look up right away, simply shrugged, twirling a marker between her fingers. “Yeah, I started this new one. You build stuff and make your own worlds. You can even share them with friends. It’s calledRobot Blocks.”
