No answer.
Moments later, the door swung open, and Rick lunged with a broken bottle. Officers restrained him swiftly, revealing a living room wrecked in anger—holes in the walls, a broken crib, and a bloodstained belt draped over a chair.
Theo, holding Amelie close, simply nodded. “Can we stay here tonight?” he asked quietly.
“You can stay as long as you need,” Miriam said, smiling.
Weeks later, during the trial, evidence of abuse was undeniable: Theo’s testimony, medical reports, and photographs from the house. Rick Bennett pled guilty to multiple counts of child abuse and endangerment.
Theo and Amelie were placed with foster parents, Grace and Adrian Colton, living a short drive from the hospital. For the first time, Theo slept without fear of footsteps in the hallway, while Amelie settled into daycare. Slowly, Theo began to enjoy the simplicity of childhood—riding a bike, laughing at cartoons, and learning to trust again, always keeping Amelie nearby.
One night, as Grace tucked him in, Theo asked softly, “Do you think I did the right thing, leaving home that night?”
Grace smiled and brushed his hair from his forehead. “Theo, you didn’t just do the right thing. You saved both of your lives.”
A year later, Dr. Hart and Nurse Olivia attended Amelie’s first birthday. The room was filled with balloons, laughter, and the smell of cake. Theo hugged Olivia tightly.
“Thank you for believing me,” he said.
Outside, spring sunlight warmed the yard as Theo pushed Amelie in her stroller, the scars on his skin fading while the courage in his heart shone brighter than ever. The boy who had once walked barefoot through snow now walked toward a future full of safety, love, and hope.
