"Are you nervous?" Liam asked me. Yes, of course I was nervous.

I hadn't seen my parents for ten years. I had refused to see them ever since I last saw them.

To think that the last time I saw them, I hated Liam more than anything in this world.

Today, I loved him more than anything in the world. Our wedding had only been a few months ago. Ten years ago, I would have scoffed at the smallest possibility of that.

Today...I'm believing in many more things.

When Liam's mother was killed, my parents were sentenced to thirty years in prison. That was soon shortened to twenty years, and then fifteen years.

I don't know why. Only the government knows, I guess.

It's been fifteen years. How time flies.

Today they were getting out of jail.

Of course, I could never look at them the same again. It was hard to say they were my real parents. My real parents would have to be the people who adopted me ten years ago, who were always there for me during my darkest moments.

But even if my biological parents didn't seem like my real parents anymore, I could still forgive them.

To be honest I was very nervous.

Liam wrapped his arm around me, "It will be okay."

"Yeah, I just- well a lot of things have changed."

"Changes can be okay as well."

I took a deep breath and turned to find my parents in front of me.

They were a mess. You'd think inmates would at least shower. Or maybe they did, it just didn't really help because, come on, it's prison.

But who was I to judge?

"Harmony!"

"Mom! Dad!" I couldn't stop myself from saying that. I had always known them as my parents, I couldn't push that thought away.

Or maybe, I would think of myself as having four parents instead of two.

"We missed you so much, darling!"

"I missed you too," I whispered.

"We're so sorry."

My response was definitely not one they were expecting, "It's okay... I forgive you."

My scars have only strengthened me.

Liam grabbed my hand.

We have done the impossible.

---

I cannot believe it! This book is finished!

We started publishing this book on September 19, 2020. Now, this book currently has 747 reads and 318 votes!!! That's so amazing, I never thought that would happen!

Starting Monday, I'll start publishing a new book of my own, so don't forget to check that out on my profile! And definitely don't forget to check out @Catclakat's profile!

Thanks so much for reading and voting on our chapters in the past few weeks. It means so much to both of us!

💙, Stella Rose