Years passed. Emily’s first steps, her first words, her stubborn refusal to follow rules—each milestone made Clara’s heart swell with pride.
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On Emily’s tenth birthday, Clara watched her blow out the candles, her wish simple and pure: “I hope Mom never gets sick.” Clara excused herself, fighting back tears.
By fourteen, Emily had become a whirlwind of emotions—poetry, dreams, and the inevitable teenage rebellion. But even then, when Emily cried over a fight with friends, she still came to Clara for comfort, curling up in her lap as if she were still a small child.