Chapter 29 - The Family We Chose
Six months after that terrible night, Grace turned eight.
We didn’t have a big party. Just the two of us, plus Maya and her daughter, and two of Grace’s new friends from school.
We had cake and pizza in the park. Grace ran around laughing with her friends while I sat on a blanket with Maya.
“You did good,” Maya said quietly. “Both of you.”
I watched Grace chase a butterfly, her purple glasses flashing in the sunlight.
“I almost lost her,” I said. “Not physically, but… the light in her. Lauren was taking it.”
Maya nodded.
“But you didn’t let her,” she said. “You fought for her. And you’re still fighting.”
I smiled.
“She’s worth fighting for.”
Later that evening, after everyone left, Grace and I sat on the couch in our pajamas. She was tired but happy.
“Mom,” she said, yawning, “today was the best birthday I ever had.”
I kissed the top of her head.
“Mine too,” I said.
May you like
And I meant it.
Because the family we had now — small, safe, and full of love — was better than any big, broken one we had left behind.
