SOUTH BOSTON, Va.—
Sitting next to her father at Constitution Square, Brittany Smith spoke to her crowd briefly-- in the hushed voice of a 12-year-old."I just want to thank everybody for their prayers and support," said Brittany.
But even that was enough for the people who gathered to welcome her to South Boston, her new home.
"I prayed about it, I never gave up hope that she would be found," said family friend Lisa Wallace.
The welcome celebration for friends and family started as a candlelight vigil-- the idea came a day before Brittany was found safe in California. Now more than a week later and those closest to her still can't believe she's here.
"I just kept stroking her hair and saying you know, 'it's really you!'" said family friend Debbie Bunker Cook. "You're here and you're ok because so many kids dont come back."
Now living with her father in South Boston, Brittany smiled frequently to the audience; and posed for pictures afterward before being taken away inside a circle of protective loved ones.
"She's doing ok and mostly we're just joyful right now and just concentrating on the excitement of being home," said Bunker Cook.
"I think her journey is just beginning," said Wallace. "I think it's just beginning, I think it's going to be a while."
