Chapter 15: Full Circle
On the four-year anniversary of the day Arthur found her, he took Maya back to the cottage garden. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue across the blooming sunflowers.
Maya stood in the middle of the grass, wearing running shoes. She took a deep breath, looked at Arthur with a mischievous grin, and sprinted across the lawn toward him.
She threw her arms around his waist, laughing freely—a sound entirely clear of fear or pain.
Arthur hugged her tight, looking up at the clear evening sky.
""You're fast now, kiddo,"" he chuckled.
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""I had a lot of lost time to catch up on,"" Maya said, looking up at him with clear, happy eyes.
She turned and looked back toward the path where her old wheelchair used to sit, now long gone and forgotten. She was no longer the frightened girl in the driveway. She was free, standing tall, and ready for whatever lay ahead."
