Chapter 5
The next few days were a blur.
Elena brought them to her home—grand, beautiful, but warm and full of light.
Leo had his own bedroom. With books. Toys. Everything he had never dared to want.
But he was quiet. Distant.
Elena sat with him one evening on the balcony, watching the stars come out.
"Are you sad?" she asked gently.
Leo nodded.
"I'm confused," he said. "You're my mom. But Mara is my mom too. I don't know who I am anymore."
Elena wrapped an arm around him.
"You are Leo. Brave, kind, wonderful Leo. And you have two people who love you more than anything in the world. Mara raised you. Protected you. She will always be family. Always."
"Will she stay?"
"If you want her to," Elena said. "I want her to stay. She is part of this family too."
Leo smiled then. A small, real smile.
"I want her to stay."
Elena held him close.
"Then she will stay. Forever."
Inside the house, Mara stood watching them. Tears in her eyes.
Elena called to her.
"Come join us," she said.
Mara hesitated, then walked out.
Elena took her hand.
"We are family now," she said. "No secrets. No hiding. Together."
Mara nodded, weeping openly now.
"Thank you," she whispered.
May you like
Elena squeezed her hand.
"Thank you for giving me back my son."
