I Was 29 and Single When I Fought to Keep Five Siblings Together. The Judge Asked Why, and My Answer Changed Everything.

‘Which marks?’

‘These.

They show people ate here before us.’

I looked at him.

‘Yes.

We can keep them.’

We put the table in the kitchen that night.

It had old dents, one mismatched leg, and enough room for every child to have a place.