Months later, Rachel stood outside the correctional facility holding Emily’s son.
He was older now.
Talking.
Running.
Asking questions about everything.
Then the main door opened.
Emily stepped outside.
For several seconds, she did not move.
There was no glass between them.
No officer holding the baby.
No countdown.
Her son stared at her.
Emily crouched slowly.
Hi.
The boy looked toward Rachel.
Then back at Emily.
Mama?
Emily’s face collapsed into tears.
Yes.
He ran toward her.
Emily caught him and held him against her chest.
Exactly the way she had imagined every night.
She closed her eyes.
He felt heavier than she remembered.
Warmer.
Real.
Rachel began crying too.
Emily kissed her son’s forehead.
I am sorry I missed so much.
The boy wrapped his arms around her neck.
Emily held him tighter.
She could never recover the years she lost.
But standing outside those gates, she understood something.
For the first time, there was no glass between them.
And no one was telling her the visit was over.
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