Chapter 15: What I Kept
Two years after I returned from Tampa, Felix turned nine.
We celebrated in the backyard with my parents, a few neighbors, and the friends Felix had made. No one from Russell’s side was there. We didn’t need them.
Felix blew out the candles and looked up at me with the same bright eyes I remembered from the photographs Russell had sent.
“I love our family, Mommy.”
I kissed the top of his head.
“I love our family too.”
Later that night, after everyone had gone home, I stood on the porch and looked at the house. The lights were on. My parents were inside laughing at something on television. Felix was already asleep with his new book beside him.
Five years of sacrifice had not been wasted.
They had built this.
The man who had smiled while he took everything had lost it all with one phone call.
I had gained everything that mattered without ever raising my voice.
I went inside, locked the door, and turned off the lights.
The house was quiet.
May you like
The family was safe.
And for the first time in years, I slept without fear of what I would find when I woke up.
