Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One: The Senior Year
The first day of senior year arrived cold and clear.
Lina stood at the door, watching the twins get ready. Lily wore a new dress, her hair in a high ponytail, her backpack covered in pins and patches from years of memories. Leo wore his usual clothes, his backpack plain, his expression serious.
"Are you ready?" Lina asked.
Lily nodded. "I've been ready for years."
Leo shrugged. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Lina hugged them both.
"I love you," she said. "I'm so proud of you. You're going to have a wonderful year."
Lily hugged her back. "Thanks, Mama."
Leo hugged her back. "We'll be fine."
They walked out the door.
Lina stood in the doorway, watching them go.
They did not look back.
She cried.
Ethan put his arm around her.
"They're going to be fine," he said.
Lina leaned into him.
"I know," she said. "But I'm still going to worry."
"That's your job."
They stood in the doorway, holding each other, while their children walked into their last year of high school.
---
Senior year was chaos.
Lily was everywhere—rehearsals for the school play, meetings for the student council, applications for scholarships. She was burning bright, determined to make every moment count.
Leo was quieter. He went to class. He did his homework. He spent time with Maya. He prepared for college.
Lina watched them both and felt a strange mix of pride and sadness.
This was their last year.
Their last first day.
Their last homecoming.
Their last prom.
Their last everything.
---
Lily was nominated for homecoming queen.
She stood on the football field, her crown on her head, her smile bright. The crowd cheered. Her friends hugged her. Her family watched from the stands.
Lina cried.
Ethan held her hand.
"She's beautiful," Lina said.
"She's yours," Ethan replied.
Lina leaned into him.
"She's ours," she said.
---
Leo was asked to speak at the science fair.
He stood at the podium, his notes in his hand, his voice steady. He talked about curiosity and discovery and the importance of asking questions. The audience listened. The teachers nodded. The students applauded.
Lina cried.
Ethan held her hand.
"He's brilliant," Lina said.
"He's yours," Ethan replied.
Lina leaned into him.
"He's ours," she said.
---
Prom night arrived warm and clear.
Lily wore a gold dress that sparkled under the lights. Leo wore a black tuxedo that fit him perfectly. They posed for pictures, their arms around each other, their smiles wide.
Lina took photograph after photograph, trying to capture every moment.
"One more," she said.
"Mama, we have to go," Lily protested.
"One more."
Lily sighed. "Fine."
She smiled.
Lina took the picture.
She would treasure it forever.
---
Lily was voted Most Likely to Succeed.
Leo was voted Most Likely to Win a Nobel Prize.
They stood on the stage, holding their certificates, their faces flushed with pride.
Lina cried.
Ethan held her hand.
"They did it," Lina said.
"They did it," Ethan agreed.
Lina leaned into him.
"We did it," she said.
---
The last day of school arrived cold and clear.
Lina stood at the door, watching the twins get ready. Lily wore a casual dress, her hair loose, her backpack light. Leo wore his usual clothes, his backpack empty.
"Are you ready?" Lina asked.
Lily nodded. "I'm ready."
Leo nodded. "I'm ready."
Lina hugged them both.
"I love you," she said. "I'm so proud of you. You're going to do great things."
Lily hugged her back. "Thanks, Mama."
Leo hugged her back. "We'll be fine."
They walked out the door.
Lina stood in the doorway, watching them go.
They looked back.
They waved.
She waved back.
She cried.
Ethan put his arm around her.
"They're going to be fine," he said.
Lina leaned into him.
"I know," she said. "But I'm still going to miss them."
"That's your job."
They stood in the doorway, holding each other, while their children walked out of high school and into the future.
---
That night, after the twins were asleep, Lina sat on the couch with Ethan.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Empty," Lina said. "Not in a bad way. Just... empty. Like I've been carrying something for so long that I forgot what it felt like to put it down."
Ethan put his arm around her. "That's called pride."
"Is that what this is?"
"I think so."
Lina leaned into him.
"They're leaving," she said. "They're really leaving."
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"They are," he said. "But they'll come back. They'll always come back."
Lina closed her eyes.
She thought about all the years ahead. The challenges. The joys. The moments she would hold her children and the moments she would have to let them go.
She was not ready.
But she was learning.
And learning, she was beginning to understand, was the most important part of love.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One