She nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I will."
I pulled her into a hug, my arms wrapping around her small frame. She smelled of jasmine and teenage angst. "I love you, sweetie. More than anything in this world. I just want you to be safe."
"I love you too, Mom," she mumbled into my shoulder. "And I'm always safe."
I had to believe her. As much as she tried to be a grumpy teenager like her brother, she still had that innocence of her. She was my baby and I hated that she was growing so fast, too fast. She went from needing me for every little thing to wanting to be independent so bad. It was a little heartbreaking watching her go through this ‘I’m not a little girl anymore’ phase, but I also understand that this was life. This was the circle.
She pulled away, a small smile on her fa
