I packed while he was at work.
Not just clothes.
Documents.
Birth certificates.
My late husband’s insurance papers.
Everything important.
Every few minutes Lily would ask:
“Are we leaving forever?”
And every time I answered:
“Yes, baby.”
When Ryan came home early that evening, my car was already loaded.
He froze in the driveway.
“What’s going on?”
My heart hammered so hard I thought I’d faint.
I stepped in front of Lily.
“We’re leaving.”
His expression changed instantly.
Not confusion.
Not sadness.
Anger.
Cold anger.
“Because of what she said?”
I didn’t answer.
He took one step closer.
“You’re really going to believe a child’s imagination?”
Lily started crying behind me.
