Chapter 10 - The Brightest Horizon
That evening, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of amber, violet, and deep rose.
Our dining room table was set with colorful paper plates, bright napkins, and the homemade lemon raspberry birthday cake glowing with seven bright candles. Sadie sat at the head of the table wearing a glittering paper crown, her face lit up with absolute joy as we all sang Happy Birthday at the top of our lungs.
In her high chair right beside Sadie, baby Eliza clapped her chubby hands together, squealing with delight and bouncing up and down to the rhythm of the song, even if she had no idea what the celebration was about.
"Make a wish, big girl!" Matthew encouraged, leaning down behind Sadie’s chair.
Sadie squeezed her eyes shut, scrunched up her nose in deep concentration, and blew out all seven candles in one mighty, triumphant puff.
The smoke curled lazily toward the ceiling as applause filled the room.
"What did you wish for, Sadie?" I asked, leaning down to kiss the top of her head as she beamed around the table.
"I wished that we never, ever have to go back to that old gray hospital or see anyone who tries to take us away," Sadie said simply, her bright eyes shining with total innocence and security. "And I wished that Eliza and I stay best friends forever."
"That is the best wish I've ever heard," Matthew said, his arm wrapping securely around my waist as we stood side-by-side watching our daughters.
I looked down at Eliza, who reached out her tiny hands and grabbed a fistful of air, giggling as her father leaned over to tickle her tummy.
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We had lost a family of toxic expectations, but in return, we had found something far more powerful: each other. Mercy Ridge Hospital had recorded the darkest night of our lives, but it had also captured the moment our eyes were opened, the moment our family chose truth over manipulation, and the moment we stepped out of the shadows and into a future filled with genuine, unconditional love.
The horizon stretching out before us was bright, wide, and entirely our own.
