CHAPTER 28: ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA
I remember the first time I truly saw Australia, not in a photo, not on a map, not in some glossy magazine meant to entice travelers. I saw it through the airplane window as it descended slowly, the clouds parting like curtains revealing a stage I never thought I would step onto. The sky was endless, a soft, pale blue that stretched farther than my eyes could reach. It was humbling, beautiful, and frightening all at once. I gripped Paul’s hand tightly, and even through the nervous tremor in my chest, I felt the warmth of his steady presence. It was the first time in a long time I allowed myself to believe that we could finally be safe.
Our children pressed their faces against the small windows, their little hands leaving smudged prints as they pointed to
