She saw her mother.
Michael remained a central presence in both their lives.
He taught Sophie how to plant flowers, showed her how to repair a bicycle tire, and patiently listened to stories that seemed to grow longer each time she told them.
He was the person Sophie called when she needed help building something for school.
He was the person who never complained when she wanted to play the same board game repeatedly.
And he was the person who reminded her that mistakes were opportunities to learn.
For years, the three of them created a family life that felt secure.
It was not the life Emma had imagined at thirteen.
But it was real.
And it was theirs.
Then Michael became ill.
His health deteriorated gradually at first. He grew tired more easily, stopped joining them on long walks, and began spending more time resting.
Emma accompanied him to appointments whenever she could.
