CHAPTER 5 – HEALING
Lily spent several days in the hospital.
Every night I slept in the chair beside her bed.
Every time she opened her eyes, I thanked God.
One afternoon she reached for my hand.
"Mommy..."
"I'm here."
"You didn't leave me."
Tears blurred my vision.
"Never."
The doctors assured me she would recover completely.
But they also reminded me of something I already knew.
Some wounds aren't visible.
I filed for a protective order.
Every person who had stayed silent that afternoon was removed from my life.
Family is not defined by blood.
It is defined by who protects you when you are powerless.
Daniel, the firefighter who saved Lily's life, stayed in touch.
He never asked for recognition.
He simply checked in every few weeks to see how Lily was doing.
May you like
She called him her "hero."
He always smiled and said, "No, your mom is."
