Noah was strapped to my chest in a soft carrier, warm and finally quiet after five weeks of barely sleeping through the night. Lily stood beside me clutching the diaper bag as if it were her own personal mission.
It would’ve meant losing a piece of our family’s story.
This was my first flight alone with both of them, and I had planned every detail down to the snack bars in Lily’s backpack.
« Mom, do you want me to hold the boarding passes? » Lily asked, tilting her head up.
« That would be a huge help, sweetheart. »
« Your ring is doing that thing again. »
« I know. I’ll get it fixed when we land, I promise. »
The ring wasn’t expensive, but Ethan had saved for months to buy it. Every scratch marked another chapter of our life together. Losing it wouldn’t have meant losing gold. It would’ve meant losing a piece of our family’s story.
