The house was transferred to Sarah.
Police arrested Michael for violating a restraining order.
Later, he faced trial.
Convicted.
Attempted murder.
Child endangerment.
Fraud.
Twelve years.
Epilogue: The Seed
I built a foundation for elderly women facing abuse.
Sarah rebuilt her life.
The children thrived.
Michael never got parole.
He died in prison—heart failure.
His final letter said he was sorry.
I folded it away.
On my seventy-ninth birthday, I stood on my balcony, raised a glass, and smiled.
He tried to bury me.
He didn’t know I was a seed.
And this time, the sweetness lingered.