Chapter 14 - Years Later, Isabella Returned to the Dead Maple Tree Where Emma First Washed Her Feet and Finally Told Her Little Sister the One Thing Neither of Them Would Ever ForgetThe maple tree was alive again.

New branches.
Green leaves.
A new season.
Isabella stood beside Emma.
Emma was six.
Isabella was nine.
They looked at the basin.
“Remember?”
Emma smiled.
“Your legs were sleeping.”
Isabella laughed.
“I believed you.”
“You had to.”
“Why?”
“Because I believed you first.”
I watched them.
My daughters.
Yes.
Even though Emma wasn't biologically mine.
She was family.
Isabella took her hand.
“Thank you.”
Emma shrugged.
“You're welcome.”
Then Isabella hugged her.
That was the family Elena had wanted.
Not an empire.
May you like
Not power.
Love.