Chapter 10 - The Forever Home
Five years later, Leah celebrated her eleventh birthday.
Our house was filled with the chaotic, joyful sounds of children laughing, music playing, and the sweet scent of chocolate birthday cake drifting from the kitchen. Julian, now a lively five-year-old, was running around the living room wearing a superhero cape, while Leah presided over her gift table like a queen.
She was tall, confident, and fiercely protective of her younger brother. In school, she excelled in debate and art, her voice strong and unwavering whenever she spoke up for others. The ghost of the frightened little girl standing in the hallway with a packed backpack had vanished entirely, replaced by a young girl who knew her worth down to her bones.
Michael and I stood by the kitchen island, watching her unwrap a massive art set we had gotten her.
"She looks so happy," Michael whispered, wrapping his arm around my waist and pressing a kiss to my temple. "We did good, Clara."
"We did," I agreed, watching Leah pull a brand-new stuffed rabbit—an upgraded, giant version of her childhood toy—out of its box and laugh as Julian tried to tackle her in a hug.
My phone buzzed on the counter. A local news notification flickered across the screen detailing a local charity auction where a prominent philanthropist had donated a large sum to support foster and adopted youth initiatives.
I glanced at the screen, then scrolled past it without a second thought.
The past no longer had any power over us. The toxic roots of my family had been entirely severed, and in their place, a magnificent, thriving garden had grown.
May you like
Leah caught my eye across the crowded room, gave me a bright, knowing wink, and went right back to laughing with her brother.
She had all the space in the world. And she was never, ever leaving.
