Dad glances between us, sighs, and doesn’t say another word about it.
After standing around in the airport parking lot forever, we finally get in Mom’s SUV and head for home.
Mom and Dad in the front. Maddy and Zack in the middle and me and Jax in the back.
We talk and laugh and everything’s wonderful. And as I sit there, I realize how precious and fragile life is. How small acts of kindness and love have made me strong enough to endure anything that comes my way.
Maddy’s alive. She’s going to be okay. And it all started with a tiny shred of hope that one person could save her. Hope. I had it all along, even when I thought it had disappeared. And even though the person I thought I could maybe count on didn’t save Maddy’s life, someone unexpected stepped up and took the challenge.
There are still good people in this world.
I think back to the last few weeks and smile. I have an aunt who loves me, even though my own mother never could. An aunt who was selfless and brave and gave Maddy the greatest gift anyone could ever give: a second chance at life. I have a family who loves me. Who loves Maddy. And then there’s my wonderful boy. A boy who changed my life in just a few days simply by being himself. A boy I can’t wait to spend time with and laugh with and talk with and go through struggles with.
Go to college with.
A boy who wrote a song just for me and cared enough about a girl he just met to help save her sister’s life.
A boy who learned he was the only one who could save himself and turn his life and dreams around.
And he’s mine.
My life is mine. And I’m going to enjoy every second of it with the people I love most.
Hope is a beautiful, uncomplicated thing. Something I’ve never given much thought about. But right now, in this very moment, I’ve never been more grateful for it in my entire life.
Interlude Page 21