« Mama Emily! » cried one of them, running towards her. The porch planks creaked under their hurried steps. Emily barely had time to stand before she was enveloped in a tight, tearful embrace.
« My beautiful girls, » Emily murmured in a trembling voice. « Look at yourselves… what you’ve become! »
A young woman took his hands and smiled through her tears. « We owe you everything we are. »
Gifts of appreciation
Another woman reached into her bag and placed a small silver key in Emily’s palm. Taken aback, she looked at the key, then at their beaming faces. « It’s yours, » the young woman explained softly, gesturing toward the car. « And that’s not all. We bought you a new house. You won’t need to work anymore. »
Emily’s eyes widened, her knees nearly buckled. All those nights of sacrifice—mending clothes, skipping meals, enduring whispers—suddenly found their meaning in this dazzling moment of love.
A new beginning
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