Fevers I had never sat through.
Birthdays I had never attended.
Questions I had never answered.
Victories I had never witnessed.
And a mother who had done all of it alone.
I handed the medals back.
Nathan adjusted his jacket.
Noah looked at me.
“You okay?”
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
For once, that was true.
Claire stood below the stage.
Carter stood beside her.
I looked at them.
Then at my sons.
Thirteen years earlier, I had believed success meant entering the right rooms.
Knowing the right people.
Owning the right companies.
Having enough money that nobody could tell me no.
I had achieved all of it.
And I had nearly lost everything that mattered.
The twins turned toward the cameras.
I stood behind them.
Not in front.
That was where I belonged.
The photographer counted down.
“Three.”
Noah smiled.
“Two.”
Nathan rolled his eyes.
“One.”
The flash exploded.
And for the first time in thirteen years, when I looked at the family standing around me, I did not wonder what they could give me.
I only wondered whether I could become worthy of staying.
