That evening, Judy helped me bring all the boxes home.
This time, we didn’t rush through them.
I read several letters and cried through most of them. But one actually made me laugh.
Judy stayed late before hugging me tightly at the door.
“Call me.”
“I will,” I promised.
And for once, I truly meant it.
The next morning, I woke up early.
For a moment, I didn’t understand why. I still had two weeks left away from work. Then I noticed one of Lily’s letters sitting on my nightstand.
“Open when you can’t get out of bed.”
I picked it up and read her sweet morning message wishing me a productive and happy day.
Then I set it back down carefully.
“I’m getting up,” I whispered.
And I did.
Lily’s old school looked exactly the same.
I walked inside with my heart pounding.
Karen at the front desk looked up in surprise.
“Mrs. Carter…”
“I’m here to see the librarian,” I said.
“Of course, just sign in, and you may proceed.”
When I entered the library, students sat scattered quietly around the room.
And then I saw her.
A girl sitting alone in the corner with her hood pulled up.
My chest tightened when I realized she was wearing the exact same gray hoodie Lily used to wear.
