aved a dism

illy, Lily. He'

ned her glar

you can't just leave her

r's focus on my supposed fail

red, loud enough for the other wai

ar ache of being erased st

ard, his expression a

rine, Mike. Let'

. "It's okay, Lily. Your dad

derstanding, but it felt like a physician ex

ever, was

me, then back to Vance,

ance be my

in the sterile a

er voice was

d smile playing on his lips for a fracti

ine ex

Lily.

Michael?" Her voic

it is! Your only job is to look after h

nts from my past life, the c

failure as

emnly, agreeing

anger, Lily's mirroring her mother's disdain, Vanc

er weariness

rs of trying in my previo

ice flat, devoid of e

d away, their voic

evaporate the moment I was

ce soften as sh

appy sound that d

d Katherine's shoulders, a comforting g

e clinic together, a

, the silence of my

ll throb, but something new wa

I wouldn't

me, I w

e. Not

unty Courthous

, my movements s

air was cool

d eyes looked up

I hel

aid. My voice sounded

y, final, yet also

concrete step towards a