She had never seen him cry.
Across the corridor, Lily stood in the doorway.
She had slipped away from the social worker.
Daniel looked up.
She stared at the letter in his hands.
“Did Mommy write that?”
“Yes.”
“Is she awake?”
“Not yet.”
Lily nodded as though she had expected that answer.
Then she noticed the photograph.
“That’s Mommy.”
“Yes.”
“Who’s the man?”
Daniel’s throat tightened.
“That’s me.”
Lily looked from the photograph to his face.
Her eyes narrowed in concentration.
“You knew my mommy?”
“I did.”
“Before me?”
“Yes.”
“Did you make her sad?”
The question struck harder than accusation.
“I don’t know,” Daniel said. “But someone made both of us believe things that weren’t true.”
Lily stepped closer.
“What does the letter say?”
Maria began to intervene.
Daniel stopped her gently.
He crouched so he was level with Lily.
“It says your mother was very brave.”
