Chapter 10 - A New Chapter
It was Rose's second birthday.
The backyard was decorated with pink and gold balloons, a stark contrast to the ones Madison had brought to the hospital.
Julian’s parents were laughing by the barbecue with my father.
Friends from my support group and the neighborhood filled the lawn with joyful chatter.
I watched Rose chase a butterfly across the grass, her laughter echoing in the warm afternoon air.
A man approached me, holding two glasses of lemonade.
It was Dr. Evans, the pediatrician who had taken over Rose's care after we moved.
He had become a close friend over the past year, and recently, something more.
"She’s getting fast," he smiled, handing me a glass.
"She’s unstoppable," I agreed, taking a sip.
He gently placed his free hand on the small of my back.
"You did good, you know," he said softly.
"You fought a war for her, and you gave her a beautiful life."
I leaned into his touch, feeling safe and cherished.
I looked around at my chosen family, the people who loved me for me, not for what I could provide them.
My mother was in a cell.
Tyler was a distant memory.
The name "Madison Grace" didn't exist.
There was only Rose.
May you like
There was only our truth, our survival, and our profoundly beautiful future.
I smiled up at the sky, knowing Julian was watching over us, and finally, my heart was completely at peace.
