She also thought about everything still waiting ahead.
University.
New friendships.
New opportunities.
And the possibility that her own life could contain more than responsibility and survival.
When Emma finally released Sophie, she laughed through her tears.
“That was a very unfair speech.”
Sophie grinned.
“I know.”
“Now everyone is crying.”
“Then they all need cake.”
And the room filled with laughter again.
The Conversation Emma Had Waited Years to Have
That night, after the guests had gone home, Emma cleaned the kitchen.
Sophie had fallen asleep upstairs, exhausted from celebrating.
The house was peaceful.
A few balloons remained attached to the chairs, and there were crumbs near the cake stand.
Emma collected the plates and wiped the table.
Then she noticed Michael's photograph on the shelf.
He was smiling in the picture.
It had been taken years before his illness, during a summer afternoon when Sophie was still small.
