The woman did not turn when Kira and Braxton walked into the room.
Braxton offered Kira a reassuring look before walking over to the side of the chair. He dropped down onto one knee beside her, reaching out to take her frail, pale hands in his.
Kira hung back, standing a little behind, watching. Her heart was thumping so violently against her ribcage that she was genuinely convinced it was making an audible thudding noise in the quiet room.
Her fingers twitched nervously against the hem of her oversized cotton hoodie. She watched as Braxton gently squeezed their mother's hands.
"Mother," he said softly. "I want you to turn around. There's someone here. Someone you've waited a very long time to see."
Carefully, he turned the chair so that the woman faced the room. Kira's breath caught in her throat. Sitting right before her was a woman who looked like an older and beautifully matured version of herself.
