Elena and Javier eventually moved, seeking a fresh start. But even months later, in the dead of night, Elena would sometimes wake up to the sound of the empty rocking chair in the corner of the room, moving back and forth, back and forth—a chilling reminder that the hand that rocks the cradle truly holds the power to destroy a world.

For many women, reclaiming this phrase has been an act of asserting that raising children is not less than building empires; it is the prerequisite for them.