One evening, Lily handed him a picture of two figures holding hands with the words “My Family” written above. Deeply moved, Jonathan realized that family is not defined by wealth or status, but by care, trust, and choice. Soon after, he began the process to make Lily part of his family permanently, grateful for the night a simple sound in a pantry opened the door to a second chance for them all.
I didn’t think my pride had a price tag, but there I was, counting coins and stretching packets of instant noodles like they were gourmet meals.
Every call with my parents felt like a performance where I pretended everything was “fine, just busy.” I loved them, and that was exactly why I didn’t want to worry them. So when my mom called out of the blue and casually mentioned she might stop by my apartment to leave a few treats, I laughed it off. Treats sounded like cookies or maybe leftovers—something sweet, temporary, easy to accept without admitting how tight things had become.
That evening, exhaustion followed me home.
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