The Turner home buzzed with energy. It was the night before Hope’s college send-off, and the living room looked like a cross between a travel agency, a bookstore, and an emotional battlefield.
Suitcases sat open, clothes folded with military precision. Hope’s vision board leaned against the wall photos of international literacy events, poetry readings, and the UN logo in the center. On the kitchen island, boxes of Hope’s favorite snacks were stacked beside custom stationery and a framed photo of the entire family.
Cassie watched from the hallway, her chest tight with pride and ache.
“She’s really going,” she whispered.
Damon came up beside her, resting a comforting hand on her back. “She’s not leaving us. She’s just beginning the next part of her story.”
Cassie nodded, but her eyes li
