“I can do this,” I said to Mia. “I know I can.” I smiled and said, “Because I’ll have Poppy in my heart.” Mia’s eyes shone and she held me in her arms. “I’m so proud of you, my girl.” “Thank you,” I whispered. The truth was, I was proud of me too. And I was immeasurably proud of Poppy for making me see this. For her journal, pushing me and holding me through the pages when I didn’t have her arms to embrace me in real life. And I was proud of Tala, for allowing me this gift—of speaking to her, of helping me find my inner strength when I thought it had been lost. I was honored I’d met her.
