Broken

Epilogue

Two years later, the late afternoon sun cast a warm, golden hue over the backyard as Fatima sat in one of the comfortable chairs, watching her daughters play. It was the perfect day, their second anniversary—two years of love, laughter, challenges, and everything that came with raising Khari and Kamari. The backyard had become a haven, a place where their family could grow and thrive, and today it was alive with the sounds of their two-year-olds.

"Alright, I'm going to take a nap," Tia said with a small smile as she stood from her chair, stretching her arms over her head. "You've got the girls all under control, right?" She winked at Fatima and Zac.

"Barely," Fatima laughed, giving Tia a playful wave. "But go ahead, we'll manage."

Tia chuckled softly, making her way inside the house, leaving the family to enjoy the rest of the afternoon in their lush, beautifully landscaped yard.

Khari, as usual, was tearing around the backyard in her electric ride-on G-Wagon, zooming over the neatly cut green grass with reckless enthusiasm. Her tiny hands gripped the steering wheel with authority, her wild curls bouncing as she made sharp turns and sped toward the garden beds.

"Jesus, Khari!" Fatima called out, her voice filled with a mix of exasperation and love. "Don't turn that thing so rough!" Khari had always been more adventurous, and her driving style reflected that. Fatima could feel her blood pressure rising every time her daughter made a sharp turn or zoomed toward the flower beds.

Khari, undeterred, continued driving as if she had a license. She glanced back at Fatima with a mischievous grin, her brown eyes sparkling with defiance.

"She not gonna stop," came a tiny, soft voice beside Fatima.

Fatima looked down at Kamari, who was standing close, cradling her baby doll with both arms. Kamari, taller than her sister but far more reserved, was content watching the chaos unfold from the sidelines. She wasn't the wild, adventurous one like Khari—Kamari preferred quiet, and in this moment, she seemed to be studying her sister's antics with a sense of calm observation.

"I can see that," Fatima muttered, shaking her head as Khari zoomed dangerously close to the flower beds.

"Please watch my flowers, Khari!" Fatima scolded, her voice carrying over the backyard. Khari veered the G-Wagon slightly to the left, dodging the tulips just in time, but still laughing as if she owned the backyard.

Fatima's head dropped into her hands for a moment, her frustration quickly turning to amusement. Khari was relentless, and as much as she tried to keep her in line, Fatima couldn't help but admire her boldness.

"Babe, calm down," Zac's voice came from behind her as he approached, his hand gently rubbing her back. "She takes after her dad."

Fatima rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "That's exactly the problem," she muttered, turning to look at Zac. He had that easy smile on his face, the one that told her everything was under control, even when it felt like it wasn't.

Zac leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Fatima's temple before turning his attention to Khari. "Khari! Slow it down a little, okay?" he called out, though there was little force behind his words.

Khari looked over at her father and flashed him a grin before reluctantly easing up on the speed. "Okay, Daddy," she called back, her voice sweet but still full of mischief.

Fatima sighed, glancing over at Kamari, who was still standing beside her, watching the whole scene unfold in silence. Kamari hugged her baby doll closer and then looked up at Fatima. "She like Daddy," Kamari said in her little voice, her words soft but clear.