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.
Tall.
Confident.
Smart.
Still carrying the stuffed rabbit her father had given her.
The rabbit was old.
Patched.
Faded.
But she refused to throw it away.
She walked into my office one afternoon.
“Uncle?”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“Why did you save me?”
I looked at her.
“You knocked on my door.”
“That isn't an answer.”
I smiled.
“You needed help.”
“And?”
“And I couldn't ignore you.”
She sat across from me.
“Dad says you changed after I came into your life.”
“Your father exaggerates.”
“He says you stopped being afraid of loving people.”
I looked away.
Maybe Marcus was right.
Lily smiled.
“I think you were lonely.”
I laughed.
“You're becoming too smart.”
She stood.
“I'm going to college soon.”
“I know.”
“Will you miss me?”
I looked at her.
“Every day.”
She hugged me.
“Good.”
Then she whispered:
“You're my real family.”
I closed my eyes.
Twelve years ago, I thought family was something that could be buried.
Lily taught me that family could knock on your door at midnight.
Sometimes family arrived barefoot.
Sometimes family carried a stuffed rabbit.
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Sometimes family was a little girl who simply needed someone to say:
“I've got you.”
