“I—” Emily’s voice cracked, a flood of emotions threatening to break her composure. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You wouldn’t be a burden, Emily,” Richard responded with a firmness that left no room for doubt. “I see a lot of myself in you, and I’d like to help if you’ll let me.”
The weight of the decision rested heavily on Emily’s shoulders. But in that moment, she recalled the warmth of her grandmother’s encouragement and the promise of better days. Perhaps this was her chance to honor that memory by stepping bravely into a new chapter.
