The Smiths threw a cheerful welcome-home party, decorating the house with balloons, banners, and music. Friends and relatives gathered with gifts and warm smiles, eager to meet the little girl who had already captured the family’s hearts.
Victor and Arthur welcomed their new sister with open arms. They pulled her into their games, built towers from blocks just so she could knock them over, and even offered up their favorite toys without being asked.
Veronica watched them with misty eyes, overwhelmed with joy.
For the first time in years, she felt truly whole.
The first few weeks were blissful.
Veronica relished every small routine—helping Esther brush her hair, reading bedtime stories under a warm quilt, whispering goodnight with a kiss to her forehead. Each night, as Esther drifted off to sleep, Veronica would linger by the doorway, her heart full.
But then came the first ripple of unease.
It happened during Esther’s school enrollment. The principal, after conducting a basic skills assessment, looked up with surprise.
“Her vocabulary is remarkably sophisticated for a six-year-old,” he said. “She’s testing at a third-grade level. Are you sure about her age?”
Veronica’s smile faltered.
Esther had been sick most of her life in Romania. According to her file, she’d had little access to formal education.