January 10th. The snow in Northborough, which had been falling nonstop for over two weeks, finally let up.


    The cityy nketed in white, and the air brimmed with the anticipation of the holidays.


    The doctor had good news-Briony was finally ready to leave istion.


    The bone marrow transnt had been a resounding sess. Throughout the entire treatment, Briony had shown incredible strength, cooperating wholeheartedly with the doctors and nurses. The results were even better than anyone had hoped.


    She''d managed to avoid all the typicalplications leukemia patients usually faced.


    Cedric rke and the team of specialists were both relieved and amazed.


    At ten o''clock that morning, Briony officially left the istion ward. A nurse wheeled her across the snowy courtyard to the small recovery wing.


    She still needed several more weeks of careful observation and rehabilitation in the annex, but if all went well, she''d be discharged in time to spend New Year''s Eve at home with her family and friends.


    Her loved ones had gathered in the small building, waiting for her with barely contained excitement.


    After more than twenty days apart, seeing each other again felt utterly surreal.


    Briony was still thin, and her skin had darkened a little—a minor side effect from the transnt, which would fade in time. Her once waist-length hair had been cut to her corbone, and she wore a ck knit hat pulled low over her ears.


    Ste was the first to rush over, throwing her arms around Briony with tears streaming down her face. "I told you, Bryn! Good people like you-God just has to watch over them."


    Briony patted her friend''s back gently. "Come on now, everyone''s watching. Don''t cry."


    Truthfully, the rest of them weren''t holding up much better.


    The women dabbed at their eyes, and the men wore watery smiles as they fought back tears.


    They had all waited for this day for so long.


    A shaft of sunlight broke through the thick winter clouds, illuminating the snowy city in a golden glow.


    After all they''d been through, it felt as if even the heavens were rejoicing.


    "Mommy!"


    "Mommy!"


    The voices of two young children called out from the doorway. Briony turned.


    In the warm winter sunlight, Stewart walked slowly toward her, one hand holding their son''s, the other cradling their daughter. The three of them made their way across the snowy ground, leaving crispo footprints behind.


    Ste quietly stepped aside, giving Briony space.


    Cedric rke, still in his white coat, came forward and put a reassuring arm around Ste''s shoulders.


    Ste wiped her tears of joy, instinctively leaning into her husband''s embrace. These days, they were more used to arguments than peaceful moments like this.


    After everything-pain, fear, separation-the family of four was finally together again.


    Everyone watching felt the significance of the moment. No one dared disturb them.


    Stewart stopped in front of Briony, his dark eyes searching her face.


    During the days she''d spent in istion, family members were allowed to visit, but only through a ss window. Stewart hade almost every single day.


    Briony didn''t always know he was there. She''d slept through much of her treatment, too exhausted to eat or speak, though thankfully she''d been spared the worst


    Most days, Stewart could do nothing but watch her sleep, alone and pale in her hospital bed.


    Every day, he checked in with Cedric rke, making sure Briony was holding steady, silently grateful that sleep at least kept her from suffering.


    Those twenty-six days had felt endless.


    But now, Briony had made it—she was out, she was alive, she''d won.


    Stewart finally allowed himself to breathe.


    Whatever it took, he thought, it was all worth it as long as she came back to them.


    He spoke, his voice deep and gentle: "The kids had an event at school today. I dropped everything and brought them right after, just so they could see you."


    Briony hesitated, then gave a tired but genuine smile. "You didn''t have to rush. We''ll have plenty of time together from now on.”


    "The kids couldn''t wait to see their mom." Stewart''s voice was low, thick with emotion. "Bryn, congrattions. You''ve been given a new lease on life." Briony''s eyes softened. “Thank you."


    She was still so polite, so reserved, that Stewart could only look at her in helpless affection. Before he could say more, little Nina wriggled in his arms and reached out, touching Briony''s cheek. "Mommy, you look a little darker than before!"


    Briony blinked in surprise.


    "Mommy''s skin changed a bit because she was sick," Stewart exined gently.


    "She''ll be back to normal soon enough."