PART 17 – The More I Thought About Those Two Afternoons, the More I Realized How Little I Had Known About My Own Home

I barely slept that night.

Lily was resting beside me.

Her stuffed rabbit was tucked under her arm, and the blue drawing she had made was folded on the table.

I kept looking at the door.

Every time someone walked past, I raised my head.

I was waiting for the hospital team.

I was waiting for answers.

Most of all, I was waiting for someone to tell me what I needed to do next.

I thought about the two afternoons Daniel had spent alone with Lily.

The first time, I had been helping my mother.

The second time, I had been equally relieved that Daniel was available.

I remembered thanking him.

I remembered telling my mother how fortunate I was to have a husband willing to help.

Those words seemed painful now.

I couldn't know what had happened during those hours.

I wasn't going to invent an explanation.

But I knew the details needed to be examined.

When the nurse came in, I asked whether there had been any updates.

She explained that the team was continuing to coordinate the appropriate assessment.

I nodded.

I had learned that asking the same question repeatedly wouldn't make the process faster.

Lily stirred.

“Mommy?”

“I'm here.”

She looked toward the door.

“Are we still at the hospital?”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

She rubbed her eyes.

I helped her sit up.

She asked for water.

I handed her the cup.

Then she looked at her rabbit.

“Can he stay with me?”

I smiled.

“He can stay as long as you want.”

She hugged it.

I looked away because my eyes were filling again.

I wanted to remember her laughing.

I wanted to remember her running through the garden.

I wanted to remember the little girl who argued about bedtime stories.

I didn't want the hospital to become the only memory I had of this period.

But I knew I couldn't avoid what was happening.

A little later, Dr. Lawson came to speak with me.

She asked how Lily was doing.

I explained that she was resting and occasionally asking questions.

I asked about the next steps.

She told me the hospital would continue following its safeguarding procedures and that the appropriate professionals would guide the process.

I thanked her.

Then I looked at Lily.

She was drawing another small picture.

I sat beside her.

Whatever answers came, I wanted her to know that she would not face them alone.

Click here to continue reading: PART 18: I Finally Stopped Protecting the Reputation of a Marriage That I No Longer Knew How to Trust