CHAPTER 4 — THE FIRST WORD
CHAPTER 4 — THE FIRST WORD
Months passed.
Noah continued therapy.
Every tiny victory became a celebration.
A smile.
A laugh.
Holding Logan's hand.
Sleeping through the night.
One sunny afternoon...
Marina was planting flowers in the garden.
Noah carefully knelt beside her, patting soil around a small rose bush.
She smiled.
"You're doing such a good job."
He looked up.
His lips trembled.
Marina noticed but stayed quiet.
She had learned never to rush him.
Then...
In a voice barely louder than the wind...
"Mommy."
The tiny word stopped time.
Marina's hands froze.
She looked at him with tears streaming down her face.
"You...you don't have to call me that."
Noah shook his head.
"I want to."
Those three words shattered the years of silence.
Standing on the porch, Logan heard every syllable.
He didn't interrupt.
He simply cried.
Not from heartbreak.
May you like
From gratitude.
His son's voice had finally found its way home.
