Chapter 38

• The evening air was cool and refreshing as Charlotte stepped outside the amusement park, cradling a sleeping Leo in her arms. The thrill of their day echoed in her mind like a soft melody, a sweet reminder of laughter and joy. As they walked toward the car, the glow of the park receded into the distance, replaced by the rising stars that twinkled overhead. Charlotte felt the weight of Leo's small frame, but it was a comforting kind of heaviness, the result of a day well spent.
• “Poor thing is completely wiped out,” Janine said, walking alongside her, a knowing smile on her lips. “That was quite the adventure.”
• “When he said he wanted to ride the roller coaster six times in a row, I thought for sure he’d be awake for days,” Charlotte replied, chuckling softly at the memory of Leo’s exhilarated screams. She felt a pang of pride swelling in her chest. He had faced every challenge without hesitation today—every ride, every game—bringing back the vibrant spirit she once thought vanished under the weight of their circumstances.