A few months passed, and Denise continued reaching out to Simon without expecting anything in return. She sent simple letters, wishing him well in college and asking nothing except the chance to prove she had changed. Simon didn’t respond immediately, but he noticed that, for the first time, her actions matched her words. She was patient, respectful, and never tried to pressure him.

During that same time, Simon moved into his college dorm and began a new chapter of his life. Even though he was busy with classes and new friends, he called Joanna every evening. She always reminded him to study hard, eat properly, and never forget how proud she was of him. No matter how far apart they were, their bond remained as strong as ever.

One weekend, Simon invited Joanna to visit the campus. As they walked together, he showed her the classrooms, the library, and the small apartment he hoped to rent the following year. Before leaving, he surprised her by taking her to a lawyer’s office, where he officially filed the adoption papers that would make Joanna his legal mother. Tears filled her eyes as she realized he had been planning the surprise for months.

When they stepped outside, Joanna hugged Simon tightly and whispered, “You’ve already been my son since the day I held you in my arms.” Simon smiled through his tears and replied, “And you’ve always been my mom. Now the paperwork will finally catch up with what our hearts have known all along.”