Chapter 16 - The Fortress of Warmth
The seasons changed, bringing a brutal winter that reminded us of that fateful morning.
But this time, the cold stayed completely outside our thick, insulated walls.
We sat by a roaring fire, safe and warm, while the snow piled up outside the windows.
Nana baked her famous cinnamon rolls, the house smelling like sugar and safety.
I received a promotion at my firm, becoming the youngest senior partner in their history.
My colleagues often asked how I maintained such a ruthless edge in negotiations.
I would just smile and tell them that I learned how to fight in the trenches of my own home.
My mother attempted to call me on my birthday from the prison phone block.
I had long since blocked the facility's outgoing numbers, so she never got through.
She was a ghost, a bad memory that faded a little more with every passing day.
I focused all my love and energy on the woman who truly mattered.
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Nana’s health remained incredibly robust, fueled by happiness and zero stress.
We were a family of two, unbroken, fierce, and entirely impenetrable.
