pearls that seemed to glow against her skin. She had looked in the mirror, her eyes wide with wonder, and laughed.
“This is the one, Mom,” she had said, her voice filled with a pure, infectious joy. “It’s perfect. Promise you’ll keep it forever?” I had smiled, caught up in her excitement, and made a promise I fully intended to keep. It was a vow of love, a commitment to a future that seemed so certain and bright. I never imagined that “forever” would be cut so tragically short.
For
