I reached out to the letter,s. but my fingers were shaking so hard that I couldn’t get it. Luke noticed and gently pushed the glass of water towards me, while Matteo sat in the chair to my right.

I felt my hands numb.

You are eighteen years old.

We know, Luke said. That’s why I waited.

And you are no longer children.

“We’re always going to be your kids for you, right?

I started to cry.

• Of course.

Matteo pointed to the documents.

— The lawyer explained that in Italy there is a procedure for the adoption of adults. It is not automatic and certain conditions must be met, but we want to see if we can do it.

You want this?

Yes, they both replied.

I looked at one, when to the other.

• But why?

Luke laughed through the tears.

“Paola, do you have to ask?

I want to hear from you.

Matteo came down to his hands.

“Because when my father died, we were twelve years old and we thought we would lose everything. You stayed. You fought for us. You worked to exhaust us to have what we needed.