Chapter 23 - LILY AND THE GROCERY STORE
At eight, Lily stopped avoiding the frozen aisle.
Accidentally.
We were buying pizza.
She turned the corner.
Freezers.
Glass doors.
Hum.
Her body stopped.
I did too.
“Want to go back?”
She stared.
Then:
“No.”
We waited.
People moved around us.
Nobody knew.
A woman picked up peas.
A teenager chose ice cream.
Normal.
Lily walked closer.
Touched the glass.
Cold.
Pulled her hand away.
Then opened a door.
Took out waffles.
Closed it.
Her breathing stayed fast.
But she smiled.
“Can we get these?”
“Yes.”
At home, she asked:
“Will Grandma ever say sorry?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did Mom forgive her?”
“Ask Mom.”
She did.
Emma answered:
“Not completely.”
“Did Dad?”
“Parts.”
Lily frowned.
“You can forgive parts?”
Emma said:
“You can do almost anything with feelings. You just can’t make them into court orders.”
Lily laughed.
Good line.
Then she asked:
“Can we throw away garage freezer?”
We had kept it sealed as evidence until the case ended.
Then stored it.
I wanted to burn it.
Emma said:
“Lily decides.”
Lily looked.
“Throw it away.”
We did.
No ceremony.
Appliance recycling.
Metal.
Plastic.
Insulation.
Nothing sacred.
The chain remained in evidence archive.
May you like
I did not ask for it back.
Some objects do not need family custody.
