Chapter 9 - A New Normal
Valerie turned nine on a bright, sunny afternoon. We had a party in the backyard, with balloons, a cake she had helped me decorate, and the kids from school running through the sprinklers.
Watching her, I saw a child who was vibrant and unafraid. She had a light in her eyes that reminded me of the resilience of the human spirit. She had become a protective, loving sister to Mateo, but she no longer carried the weight of his survival on her shoulders.
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As the sun began to set, I sat on the back porch with a cold drink, watching the stars begin to poke through the dusk. Rex lay at my feet, his head resting on my boot, his breathing rhythmic and peaceful.
I realized then that the war was truly over. We hadn't just survived—we had thrived. We had taken the wreckage of our lives and built a foundation that was stronger than anything the world could throw at us.
