Chapter 13
Back at home, the kitchen was filled with the rich, comforting aroma of garlic, tomatoes, and simmering ground beef. Elena stirred the sauce on the stove while Lily sat at the small wooden table, diligently coloring inside the lines of a superhero coloring book with a purple crayon. The radio played a soft melody in the background, blending harmoniously with the bubbling sounds from the stove. When dinner was ready, Elena plated two generous helpings of spaghetti and carried them over to the table, setting a glass of milk next to Lily's plate. They sat down together, the warm steam rising between them. Before eating, Lily bowed her head for a quiet moment of thanks, a small habit they shared every evening. Elena watched her daughter with a heart full of fierce, protective love. "Mommy?" Lily asked, looking up with her big, dark eyes. "Yes, baby?" "Are we going to dress up in fancy clothes again soon?" Elena smiled gently, shaking her head as she twirled some pasta around her fork. "Not for a long time, sweetie. I think we like our normal clothes much better." Lily nodded in serious agreement, taking a bite of her spaghetti with a contented little sigh. The simple meal tasted like victory, wrapped in the quiet sanctuary of their own home.
