Chapter 10 - THE MOON FOLLOWS US HOME
Six months later.
It was a crisp, clear October evening.
The story of the "Open-Source Cancer Cure" had swept across international news networks. Dr. Julian Vance had been cleared of all criminal charges under federal whistleblower protection laws and was now the Chief Director of the newly established National Institute for Gene Therapy—a non-profit organization funded by government grants to produce the glioblastoma treatment for free to patients worldwide.
Richard Sterling was currently serving a fifteen-year sentence in a maximum-security federal penitentiary for racketeering and fraud.
And in our home, the night was no longer something to fear.
I was driving our sedan down the quiet country road leading back to our house after a weekend trip to my sister's farm.
Claire sat in the passenger seat, her long hair blowing gently in the autumn breeze coming through the slightly open window. She looked vibrant, beautiful, and completely alive. Her hand rested on the center console, her fingers intertwined with mine.
In the backseat, Maya was fast asleep, her head leaning against her pink backpack, a tiny, peaceful smile resting on her lips.
I looked in the rearview mirror at my daughter, then looked over at my wife.
The dark circles under Claire's eyes were gone. The fear that had stalked our home like a ghost was buried beneath six months of laughter, family dinners, and quiet, beautiful mornings.
"Daniel?" Claire whispered softly, turning her head toward me.
"Yeah, honey?"
"Thank you," she said, her eyes shining with quiet, profound devotion. "For not staying asleep that night."
I squeezed her hand, bringing it to my lips, kissing her knuckles. "I'm never going to stop watching over you, Claire. Not ever."
May you like
Behind us, out the rear window of the car, the bright, full autumn moon hung high in the clear blue-black sky, shedding its soft, brilliant white light over the quiet road ahead.
And just as Maya had said all those months ago, it followed our car all the way home.
