Chapter 13
The termination hearing was harder than the criminal trial.
Prison punished Ryan.
Termination erased rights.
His lawyer argued he deserved a chance after rehabilitation.
Grace argued Lily deserved peace now.
Dr. Marin testified.
Carla testified.
Detective Monroe testified.
I testified last.
Ryan appeared by video in prison clothes.
He looked thinner.
Older.
Maybe sorry.
Maybe just trapped.
“Do you believe Ryan loves Lily?” the judge asked me.
I closed my eyes.
“I believe he loves the idea of being forgiven.”
Ryan flinched.
“I believe Lily deserves love that does not require her to be brave around it.”
The judge took two weeks.
Those two weeks felt like two years.
When the order came, I sat at the kitchen table.
Ryan’s parental rights were terminated.
Diane’s grandparent claim barred permanently.
The trust remained protected.
I cried so hard Ava took the paper from my hands.
Lily climbed into my lap.
“Happy cry?”
“Yes.”
“Good happy?”
“The best happy.”
She patted my face.
“No sad Mommy.”
I smiled through tears.
“Not sad. Safe.”
May you like
Lily repeated the word carefully.
“Safe.”
