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Maya cried quietly in the judge’s office. It wasn’t loud or messy — just soft tears that slipped down her cheeks as she signed her name on the paperwork. Lily leaned over and handed her a tissue.
My heart broke. I hadn’t realized their fears until that moment.
That night, we made spaghetti for dinner. Lily stirred the sauce. Maya danced around the kitchen holding the parmesan like it was a microphone. I let them play their music loudly.
“Can we light a candle for Mommy?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“We knew you’d choose us,” she said.
I tried to speak, but nothing came out. So I didn’t pretend. I just let the tears fall. I let them see me cry.
We were safe. We were real. And we were home.