I sacrificed my youth to raise my late sister's five orphaned children alone – but what her eldest son handed me on his 18th birthday made me exclaim, "How did this end up in your hands?"

"I want to."

I walked to the windowsill and placed the wedding ring in a small glass bowl next to the sink.

Not hidden.

No locking up.

Not waiting to be sold.

Just… at home.

I looked around me in the kitchen.

Five wonderful young people.

Who were laughing while doing the dishes.

Arguing over who had eaten the last piece of cake.

They were simply living.

Not waiting to be sold.

Thomas caught me watching them.

" What ? "

I smiled through my tears.

"Nothing, darling."

He smiled gently at me. "You've done enough. It's our turn now."

For the first time in ten years, I felt like I had the right to let off some steam.