[Four Months After Adoption]
Slowly, gradually, Ploy began to heal. The nightmares decreased. The meltdowns became less frequent. She started smiling more, laughing more, trusting more.
"Look Papa!" Ploy showed Rain her drawing—a house with three stick figures labeled "Papa Rain," "Papa Pai," and "Me."
"It's beautiful, sweetheart."
"We're a family," Ploy said proudly.
"We are. The best family."
Rain realized he'd healed even more through parenting Ploy. Helping her process trauma had helped him process his own.
They had family therapy together—learning to communicate, to support each other, to heal as a unit.
"You're doing wonderfully," their family therapist said. "Ploy is thriving."
"We're all thriving," Rain corrected.
[Six Months After Adoption - School Performance]
Ploy had a role in her school play. She was nervous but excited.
Rain and Prapai sat in the front row with the extended family—Sky, Pete, Vegas, Kinn, Porsche. Everyone had come to support Ploy.
When Ploy walked on stage and saw them all there, her face lit up. She performed beautifully.
Afterward, she ran into Rain's arms. "Did you see me?"
"You were amazing!" Rain lifted her up, spinning her around.
"I wasn't scared because you were all here," Ploy said. "My whole family."
Rain felt tears of joy.
This was what healing looked like—for all of them.