Chapter 14 - Five Years Later, I Returned to the Garden and Realized How Much Had ChangedFive years after that terrible morning, the farm looked completely different.
The barn had been restored.
The farmhouse was bright.
The garden was enormous.
My parents were older.
But they were happy.
Dad walked slowly with a cane.
Mom's hair was completely silver.
They still argued about small things.
Who forgot to water the tomatoes.
Who ate the last piece of pie.
Who changed the thermostat.
Normal arguments.
Beautiful arguments.
Anna and I were married.
We had a little girl.
Her name was Elena.
My daughter loved visiting Grandma and Grandpa.
One afternoon, she ran through the garden.
“Grandpa!”
Dad opened his arms.
She jumped into them.
I watched from the porch.
Mom came beside me.
“You're happy.”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“So am I.”
We looked toward the garden.
The plaque was still there.
No one is worthless.
I touched the words.
Then I thought about the night I came home.
The chain.
The chicken coop.
The bruises.
The fear.
The camera.
Everything had changed.
But the most important thing hadn't.
My parents were still here.
Together.
May you like
Safe.
Loved.
