Chapter 43. Being Happy and Contented

One year later...

The room was bathed in a golden glow as the sun's warm rays entered through the drapes. Mika smiled as she awoke, her heart overflowing with thanks and love. Every day since her beloved baby Axel entered her existence one year prior had served as a tribute to her tenacity and fortitude.

Axel, Mika's one-year-old son, was playing with his toys on the floor while she sat in her living room and observed him. Contrasting sharply with the terrible years she had gone through, the room was bursting with laughter and excitement. She had overcome many obstacles by persevering through life's hardships, and now that she had Axel at her side, she felt stronger than ever.

Emily, Axel's babysitter, entered the space carrying a dish of just-baked cookies. She grinned, "Look who I have here," she said. "Your favorite sweet treat, Ms. Mika."

As Mika grabbed a cookie, her eyes glowed. "You treat us too much, Emily, I thank yo