She’s my baby girl, my first draft, out in the world without me. She’s having sleep-overs at the homes of my dear friends, even venturing off to sunny Mexico.

Will she be safe? Will she play well with others? Will they like her, enjoy her company? It is all out of my hands now.

No matter what happens, I know that I made her what she is: silly, creative, strong, independent. I loved her, coddled her, coaxed the best from her. No one can take that away from me, ever. She is mine yet never really was.

Where will she go from here? It is not for me to say, only to hope.