Chapter 12 - Marcus Asked Me to Become Lily's Guardian—But I Had Already Made a Promise to a Three-Year-Old Who Called Me FamilyMarcus came to me one evening.
“I need to talk to you.”
“About?”
“Lily.”
I looked toward the garden.
She was chasing butterflies.
“What about her?”
“I don't know how long I have.”
I frowned.
“What are you saying?”
“My enemies aren't all gone.”
“Neither are mine.”
He smiled.
“I want you to be her guardian.”
I stared at him.
“You're her father.”
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
“Because if something happens to me…”
He couldn't finish.
I understood.
“You trust me?”
“With my life.”
I nodded.
“Then you don't need to ask.”
Marcus smiled.
“Thank you.”
I looked toward Lily.
“She already thinks I'm family.”
Marcus laughed.
May you like
“She thinks everyone is family.”
“That's because she's smarter than us.”
Related Stories
Chapter 13 - Years of Fear Finally Ended the Day Marcus Walked Into the Hospital—But Lily's First Words Made Him CryMarcus was injured three months later.
Chapter 14 - Ten Years After the Midnight Knock, Lily Stood in My Office and Told Me the One Thing I Never Expected to HearLily was thirteen now.
Chapter 15 - Years Later, Lily Knocked on My Door Again—But This Time She Wasn't Asking for Help, and the Little Girl Who Changed My Life Finally Gave Me the Ending I Never Knew I NeededThe first knock came at 11:59 p.m.
