Forever, This Time
Six months later, I stood in court holding her hand as the judge finalized the adoption.
She was my daughter now.
We celebrated with mint chocolate chip ice cream—with rainbow sprinkles and… a pickle on the side. I didn’t question it.
That night, I found a folded drawing in my jacket pocket.
It was us.
Standing in front of a burning house, holding hands.
Her figure had a huge smile. Mine had fire boots.
Above it, in crayon, she’d written:
“You came. You always will.”
I broke down in the kitchen and cried.
