Chapter 19 - A New Family
We celebrated Mia’s first birthday in our new backyard.
There were no lavish balloon arches or fake friends.
Just a small barbecue with Agent Sarah Jenkins, the ER nurse, Marcus, and a few close neighbors.
Mia giggled as she smashed her hands into a small pink cake.
She was perfectly healthy, a walking miracle.
I looked around at the people smiling and laughing with us.
This was what a real family looked like.
It wasn't built on blood or obligation or money.
May you like
It was built on love, respect, and showing up when things got hard.
My old family was rotting in a federal facility, and I hadn't thought about them in months.
