Chapter 12
On New Year's Eve, the bells rang in the background as I stood at the high-speed rail station exit.
And there they were my parents, still hauling that same old fertilizer sack.
"You little brat! This escalator's terrifying. Dangerous! Put that phone away."
Mom clung to the handrail for dear life. I pulled her into my arms.
Back at my new place, Dad wiped away a few tears as he watched the LED screen looping a delivery worker promo:
"Grace Lynn... when you were little, even with scraped knees, you wouldn't cry in front of the family. Now look at you, leading thousands people."
Mia hovered awkwardly at the door, refusing to come in.
Mom yanked her inside without hesitation.
"Grace told us everything. If you're okay with it, we'll be your parents too. From now on, the four
