Eventually, the court approved the adoption, and Ava came to live with us. At first, she was quiet and cautious, unsure of her new surroundings. I didn’t rush anything; instead, Lewis and I focused on making her feel safe and loved. With time, she laughed more, painted her room in her favorite color, and shared her little joys with us.

One evening, I gently told her the truth—that I was her biological mother and that I had loved her from the moment she was born. She wrapped her arms around me and whispered, “I’m glad you came back.” In that moment, I knew I had been given a rare second chance.