Chapter 28 - The Proud TeenagerComing home that evening, I stepped into a house filled with piano music and joyful laughter. Ethan, now fourteen years old, was playing chess with his physical therapist turned sports mentor, Alex.
"Checkmate!" Ethan agilely maneuvered his rook with one hand, a brilliant smile lighting up his clever, sharp face.
Alex laughed aloud and surrendered: "I yield to the young master! Your intellect gets sharper every day, Ethan."
I walked in, dropped my handbag on the table, and opened my arms to embrace my son. Ethan smoothly rolled his wheelchair forward and wrapped his arms tightly around my neck. The scent of fabric softener mixed with his natural warmth instantly melted away all external fatigue.
"Mom, my wheelchair basketball team just received an invitation to the federal invitational tournament in Chicago next month!" Ethan beamed with sparkling pride.
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"Really? That's amazing, my boy!" I kissed his forehead, my heart swelling with pride. "Mom will arrange her work to go with you anywhere in the world."
Looking at the son who was once forced to eat alone in a drafty kitchen, now standing proudly at the starting line of grand dreams, I knew every storm we survived was worth it.
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