Hope left for college at eighteen.
The house felt empty without her—quieter, smaller, missing her energy. Lina wandered past her room, seeing the ghost of her daughter everywhere.
"She'll be back," Kai reminded her. "Breaks. Holidays. Summers."
"I know. I just... miss her already."
"That's parenthood. Loving them enough to let them go."
Lina leaned against him. "When did you get so wise?"
"Years of practice. Also, therapy."
She laughed. "Therapy really does help."
Noah adjusted to being an only child again.
He missed his sister but also enjoyed the attention—the solo concerts, the focused lessons, the undivided time. He grew closer to his parents in ways that wouldn't have happened with Hope around.
"Every stage has gifts," Lina observed. "Even the hard ones."
"Even the hard ones," Kai agreed.