She took a few tentative steps toward the large living room.

The dust motes danced in the shafts of sunlight coming through the windows.

I walked over to the fireplace and knelt down to start a fire with the dry birch logs.

The wood caught quickly, the orange flames casting a warm glow over the room.

Lily walked over and sat down on the rug near my knees.

She placed her stuffed bear on the floor beside her.

I sat down on the floor next to her, pulling my knees to my chest.

“This is our home now, Lily,” I said softly.

“Nobody is going to take it away from us again.”

She looked at the fire, then looked up at my face.

For the first time in months, her lips parted and she made a sound.

“Mama,” she said.

The word was barely a whisper, but it was clear.

I closed my eyes, feeling a tight knot in my chest finally loosen.

I pulled her into my lap and held her close as the fire crackled in the hearth.

We had a long way to go, but we were finally home.