Chapter 14 - The Family We ChoseOur first family vacation was to the beach.
Lily had never seen the ocean.
She ran toward the waves laughing.
Noah chased seagulls.
Ryan carried a cooler.
I watched them from the sand.
That evening, the sun melted into the horizon.
Lily rested between us.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think Grandma will ever change?”
“I don't know.”
She looked thoughtful.
“But that's her choice.”
Lily nodded.
Then she smiled.
“I'm happy.”
I wrapped my arm around her.
“So are we.”
The ocean stretched endlessly before us.
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And for the first time, the future didn't feel frightening.
It felt open.
Related Stories
Chapter 15 - Noah's Second BirthdayNoah's second birthday became a celebration of survival.
Chapter 16 - Family GroundsYears passed.
Chapter 17 - Five Years LaterFive years after the accident, Lily was sixteen.
Chapter 18 - The Truth Noah DeservedNoah had started asking questions.
Chapter 19 - The Family That SurvivedYears later, our lives were almost unrecognizable from that terrible Sunday.
Chapter 20 - The Door to TomorrowOn a warm summer evening, we sat together beneath the stars.
