The first three days after the UN vote, Emma barely left the penthouse.
She spent hours on the floor with Daniel and Lily, relearning their rhythms, watching them play, making up for weeks of separation. Daniel wanted to tell her everything—every bug he'd found, every story Grandpa had read, every dream he'd had. Lily clung to Emma's leg whenever she tried to move, as if afraid Mama would disappear again.
"She's been doing that since we picked them up," Caroline explained when she visited on day two. "The separation affected her. She's not quite sure you're staying yet."
Emma felt guilt crush her chest. "I traumatized my eighteen-month-old daughter for advocacy work."
"You protected your eighteen-month-old daughter while doing important work," Caroline corrected firmly. "Emma, there's a difference. You didn't abandon them. You kept them safe while changing global policy. Lily will be fine. Children are resilient."
