Chapter 74

I drop the paper and jump on him, and he hugs me tightly. We fall onto the sand as he comforts me. I never imagined feeling such a strong emotion, one that could heal my soul, bringing love and hope along with it.

"You’re my brother, I..." I try to speak against his chest, but the sobs won’t let me.

"You’re my sister, Clayre. Mom was anxious for you to know the truth."

I pull away, standing up to look at him.

"Mom?"

Jack approaches and hugs me from behind. He pulls my waist, settling me onto his lap, and sits on the sand. With tenderness, he kisses my face while stroking my hair. Baylor smiles, standing up and sitting down again.

"Yes, your mother is alive—our mother, actually. And contrary to what you think, we never stopped loving you. You recognize this woman."

He searches for a photo on his phone.

"Oh my God!" I exclaim, hiding my face against Jack’s chest, overwhelmed with emotion. "It’s Emma, the nurse."

"She’s our mother."

I jump off Jack’s lap, and in seconds, I’m in Baylor’s arms, crying with him again.

"You will never feel alone again. I may not have taken care of you all these years, but I never stopped loving you."

"If I ever need to hit Jack when he hurts me, will you be there?"

"Yes, even to hit him myself."

We smile together, and confused, I return to Jack’s arms as he holds me tightly against his body.

"My love, breathe. Today might have felt like you lost everything, like you didn’t know who you were, but look at this, damn it. I love you, and your family has been waiting for you your whole life. The miracle isn’t just the cure, Clayre—it’s love."

I kiss his lips, and his hands caress my face.

"Jack, pinch me."

He smiles.

"It’s real, love. You’re in my damn lap, and yes, you have a mother, a brother, and a cure—for both your illness and your heart."

"This is so much more than I deserve, Jack," I confess between sobs.

"Love, you deserve it—never doubt that."

I try to hold back my tears while Baylor stands up, dusting the sand off his clothes.

"Let’s go. Mrs. Emma hasn’t been sleeping well for days, waiting for this reunion."

"What if she doesn’t like me?" I ask without thinking clearly, and they both smile.

Jack stands up and pulls me by the waist, running his hand over my dress.

"You two already know each other, and she loved you," my brother emphasizes excitedly.

"Let’s go!"

Together, we walk toward Jack’s car and get in. The minutes feel endless. The road seems much longer than it should be. The streets look wider, and my heart is racing. When Jack drives through the house gates, I clasp my hands together, nervous.

I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t see anything clearly in front of me. My vision is blurred by emotion, and every minute, I have to swallow my feelings to keep them from spilling out as tears. Jack parks, and I step out of the car. Baylor quickly stands by my side and holds my hand. My eyes scan the large house—the walls are white, the shutters green. The place is luxurious, well-located, and my anxiety peaks when the door opens.

Emma slowly steps onto the porch, and her gentle eyes meet mine. I want to hold back the sobs rising like a tsunami, but it’s impossible. My eyes release the salty tears, and I press my lips together in emotion.

"Mom..." I mumble, my voice choked.

"Daughter..."

Emma rushes toward me and embraces me lovingly.

This woman, who at our first encounter in the hospital, managed to touch my heart.

So many years of suffering, longing for a mother, for maternal love, and finally feeling it through her gestures makes every difficult step of my journey worthwhile. There’s no point in going back to the past or questioning what happened—we don’t have the power to change it. But now, the future can be written.

Emma runs her hand over my face and smiles.

"Clayre... or rather, your real name—Star."

My eyes widen in surprise.

"Every night I cried, looking at the sky. So many times, I imagined you as a star. A deep connection beyond understanding—one that can only be felt."

"I love being Clayre, and I will love being Star for you, too."

My mother hugs me again, overwhelmed, crying uncontrollably as she speaks through broken sobs.

"I hope I can be the mother you deserve. I hope to love you so fiercely that you will feel just how important you are to me and to Baylor. Having you back in our lives is the greatest healing for our family. And in time, I hope you can see me as your true mother and feel love for me."

I clear my throat, trying to find my voice. Baylor is crying with emotion, and Jack looks away, trying to stay tough.

"Emma, I have a wonderful father. Now I’ve gained a brother and a mother. I was always so afraid of asking God over and over because I never thought I deserved it. But today, I understand—if it weren’t for my illness, I never would have found you. Everything seemed so wrong, so unfair, but now I see I was looking at it from an unknown perspective. My fate was already written. I hope to be the daughter you always dreamed of."

"You are. Just being alive, being here for me to hold, you’re already my greatest gift."

"What happens now?" I ask uncertainly, my mind racing.

Jack holds my hand and kisses my face.

"My love, now you live. We have a long road ahead at the hospital, but we’ll all be together. Love may not cure everything, but it will make you stronger so you never give up."

I won’t give up. I will fight—until the end.