Chapter 1: Claire's Last Secret
Chapter 1: Claire's Last Secret
And just as Lily took a trembling step toward him, Ethan whispered something that made Richard's blood run cold.
"There's one more thing my mama said you needed to know..."
The creek seemed to grow quieter.
Even the wind stopped.
Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out a second folded note.
Smaller.
Older.
More fragile.
"My mom said not to give you this unless Lily started walking."
Richard stared at it.
His hands were already shaking.
Slowly, he unfolded the paper.
Claire's handwriting greeted him once again.
Richard,
If Lily walks, it means I was right.
But that's not the important part.
The important part is why she couldn't.
Richard frowned.
His eyes moved down the page.
Three years ago, Lily didn't lose only her ability to walk.
She lost her will to believe she could.
The doctors treated her body.
Nobody treated her fear.
Ethan recovered because he believed he could recover.
Not immediately. Not perfectly.
But every day.
The spring helped him trust his body again.
Maybe that's what Lily needs too.
Not a miracle.
Hope.
Richard lowered the letter.
His chest tightened.
Because Claire was right.
Since Lily's accident, every conversation had been about limitations.
Wheelchairs.
Treatments.
Risks.
Precautions.
Nobody had spoken about possibility.
May you like
Not even him.
Especially not him.
