Millicent A week later, Dr. Winters declared Alexander stable enough to travel. The Summit territory faded behind us as our convoy headed home. I held Alexander while Abel drove the main vehicle himself, refusing to delegate this responsibility to anyone else after Marcus's betrayal. Mom traveled with the medical team in another vehicle, her own health dramatically improved from the treatments. She'd cried when I told her about giving Abel another chance, but they were tears of relief. "You two belong together," she'd said simply. "Anyone can see it. Even broken, your bond is stronger than most people's whole ones." Now, watching Abel navigate the winding roads with total focus, I thought about bonds and second chances and the weight of the future. Alexander slept peacefully in his car

