With that, Lisa left, and the room finally felt peaceful. The only sound was my son’s gentle breathing, a lullaby that began to ease the tension from my body. I leaned back against the pillows, allowing myself a moment of stillness.

As I gazed at my son, a fierce determination settled over me. I knew that the road ahead would be complicated, filled with difficult decisions and emotional upheavals. But in that moment, with him nestled safely in my arms, I felt an overwhelming sense of purpose.

No matter what happened next, I would protect this child with every fiber of my being. I wouldn’t let the chaos of the past intrude upon the life I wanted to build with him. Together, we would find our way, one step at a time, forging a path defined not by the shadows of others but by the light of our own making.