These were small changes.
But they represented a different way of relating to the past.
Emma was no longer the frightened child waiting for adults to decide what would happen next.
She was a woman capable of setting boundaries.
And she intended to protect that freedom.
As for Sophie, she remained uncertain.
Some days, she felt curious about Helena.
On other days, she had no interest in revisiting the subject.
Emma allowed both feelings.
She understood that curiosity did not create an obligation.
And refusing contact did not mean a person was cruel or unforgiving.
It simply meant that they were choosing what felt right for their own life.
A Different Understanding of Family
One afternoon, Emma and Sophie walked home together after buying a few things for university.
Sophie was carrying a bag filled with notebooks.
Emma had insisted on buying extra pens, despite Sophie's repeated assurance that she already owned enough.
