CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN – REUNITED WITH THE FAMILY

The flight to New York felt both endless and far too short. As the plane touched down, Jasmine felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness churning in her stomach. She hadn't seen her family in so long, hadn't even been able to contact them while she was on the run. What if they were angry? What if too much had changed? She took a deep breath as she approached her mother's house, steeling herself before ringing the doorbell. The door swung open, and there stood her mother, looking older and more tired than Jasmine remembered. For a long moment, they just stared at each other. Then, with a choked sob, her mother pulled her into a fierce hug. "Jasmine," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Oh, my baby girl. You're home." Jasmine felt tears streaming down her face as she clung to her mother. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry I couldn't..." "Shh," her mother soothed, stroking her hair. "You're here now. That's all that matters." They stayed like that for a long moment be