CHAPTER 5 – THE FIRST PEACEFUL NIGHT
The first night after the verdict, our house felt strangely quiet.
Not empty.
Free.
Lily slept curled against her favorite stuffed rabbit, the long scar beneath her hair now hidden by new strands beginning to grow back.
For months, she had refused to sleep unless one of us stayed beside her.
That night she whispered, "Mom?"
"I'm here."
"Grandpa can't come back anymore?"
I brushed a loose strand of hair away from her forehead.
"No."
She searched my face for a long moment.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
She closed her eyes.
Less than a minute later, she was asleep.
James wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we stood quietly in the hallway.
"I haven't seen her fall asleep that fast in over a year," he whispered.
Neither had I.
For the first time since the backyard barbecue, our home sounded like a home again.
No fear.
May you like
No raised voices.
Only the soft rhythm of our daughter's breathing.
