Chapter 26 - The Birthday Celebration
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The arrival of Leo’s fifth birthday marked a profound, incredibly emotional milestone. It was the absolute confirmation that he had spent more of his life in the light than he ever had in the dark.
I wanted to throw him the biggest, most chaotic, loudest party imaginable.
The backyard of our riverfront home was completely transformed into a massive pirate-themed carnival. I rented a huge inflatable bouncy castle, hired a professional face-painter, and set up multiple tables overflowing with pizza, snacks, and a towering, elaborate pirate ship birthday cake.
Dozens of children from his school, along with the families we had met through the Foundation, filled the yard with deafening, beautiful laughter.
I stood on the wooden deck, holding a camera, watching Leo sprint across the lawn wearing a plastic pirate hat and an eyepatch. Buster was barking joyously, chasing the kids as they ran in frantic, happy circles around the bouncy castle.
Sarah, my fierce lead attorney, walked up the steps and handed me a glass of sparkling water.
"You really outdid yourself this time, Elena," Sarah laughed, watching the absolute mayhem unfolding below. "I don't think I have ever seen a happier child."
"He deserves every single second of it," I smiled, snapping a quick photo of Leo raising a foam sword triumphantly in the air.
"He doesn't even remember the bad days, does he?" Sarah asked softly, her voice filled with deep respect.
"No," I replied, a heavy, profound sense of peace settling into my chest. "He remembers the day we left. He remembers the new house. He remembers the puppies and the sunshine. The monsters are completely gone, Sarah. They don't exist in his world anymore."
"Okay, everybody! It's time for cake!" I yelled out, cupping my hands around my mouth.
May you like
The children swarmed the patio instantly, completely ignoring personal space as they crowded around the massive pirate ship cake. I lit the five bright candles, and we all sang at the top of our lungs.
Leo closed his eyes tightly, made a silent, beautiful wish, and blew out the candles in one massive breath. The crowd cheered, and I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that his wish had already come entirely true.
