CHAPTER 8: THE NEW NORMAL
Two years passed.
Lily turned fourteen. She was doing well in school, making friends, and starting to think about high school.
I found a better job and moved us into a small house with a garden. It wasn't much, but it was ours.
Mark was released on parole.
He moved to a different city and started over. He sent postcards sometimes, and Lily responded when she felt like it.
I never wrote back.
But I didn't need to.
Because I had found peace.
One evening, I was sitting on the porch, watching the sunset, when Lily came out and sat beside me.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving me. For believing in me. For never giving up."
I pulled her into a hug.
"I would do anything for you."
"I know."
She leaned her head on my shoulder.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, sweetheart."
We sat there, watching the stars come out, knowing that we were going to be okay.
We had been through hell.
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But we had come out the other side.
And we were stronger for it.
