Chapter 170

• Epilogue - Elli
• Christmas morning is one of my favorite times of the year, and this year, it feels particularly magical. The house is alive with laughter and the sweet scent of cinnamon and pine. As I stand in the kitchen, preparing a huge batch of pancakes, I can hear the excited sounds of my family and friends from the living room, their joy spilling over into every corner of our home.
• Lily, now four, is running around in her festive pajamas, her hair a wild halo of curls. She's trying to keep her two-year-old sister, May, entertained, but let’s be honest; all May wants to do is chase after Lily and knock down whatever fort she’s built with the cushions. I can’t help but smile at their antics; each squeal of delight warms my heart to its core.