a

w day. It felt like a continuation of the

ded to be done. Lily's door was closed, the soft glow of her nightlight visible beneath it

ing to my shoulders. When I looked at myself in the mirror afterward, my face seemed flatter, drained

nd asked if she could wear her favorite sneakers again. I said yes

. A friend who borrowed her pencil. I responded when needed, nodded when appropria

I didn't check my phone either. I drove straight to work, gri

r. Predictable. I took comfort in that. I answered emails. File

because that was eas

uzzed in my bag. I ignored it un

to the bathroom an

E

e misse

ext fo

get to shut

the words, my

ply, deleted it

barge into my life

idn't

nto my bag. My hands were shaking again. I leaned m

didn'

idn't

n't thro

st kept

way home. The aisles were crowded, the lights too bright. Lily sat in the

time," I said

eckout, my c

O

hen

tomach

quickly to the cashier.

at me, curious

ent through t

barrassment even though no one seemed to notice. Outside, I loa

t, I sat for a moment

the part Eva

. Where mistakes had consequences.

lped Lily with a drawing she was determined to finish. T

ble while I cleaned up. She hummed soft

" she said

"Ye

dy coming

hcloth in my han

ed, then ad

ed to loo

d on her paper instead. Her small

od?" I ask

ged. "He mak

swall

okay,"

t in the way only children could manage. "Y

d harder than anyt

hed beside her chair. "I'm work

ment, then nodded, satisfied en

of bills spread out in front of me. I sorted them carefully, making no

one buzz

pick it up

a voicemail from Evan. Hi

id. "You're acting like I d

without listen

er notificati

from an unk

. I think we shoul

the screen fo

Adu

ace down on the tabl

that was already clean, just to give my hands something to do. Outside, a car pas

light fade and st

didn'

dn't fa

e counter, aware that this was only the beginning

a slow pull.

utside Lily's room. I opened the door just enough to see her,

oor quietly and w

d come whether I

eet it the same