Chapter 2 - Lily Had Been Afraid Of The Cliffs For A Reason
Three weeks before the fall, Lily had come home from Daniel’s house shaking.
Claire noticed it immediately.
Lily normally ran inside talking about cartoons or snacks.
That Sunday she walked silently through the door and asked:
“Can you lock it?”
Claire did.
Then Lily sat against her mother and refused to let go.
“What happened?”
No answer.
“Did Daddy yell?”
A small nod.
“Did Vanessa?”
Another nod.
“What did Vanessa do?”
Lily stared at the window.
Then whispered:
“She likes cliffs.”
Claire’s stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“She took me to the big rocks.”
Claire went cold.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Was Daddy there?”
“He was on his phone.”
“What happened?”
Lily twisted the hem of her shirt.
“Vanessa held my hand really hard.”
Then:
“She said the ocean keeps girls who don’t listen.”
Claire’s entire body stiffened.
“Did she hurt you?”
“No.”
“Did you tell Daddy?”
Lily nodded.
“What did he say?”
“He laughed.”
That hurt almost more.
Claire immediately began documenting everything.
Dates.
Exact phrases.
Lily’s sleep problems.
Her sudden fear of the coast.
Claire had already spent years being told she was “too emotional” whenever she questioned Daniel.
This time she refused to doubt herself.
Then Daniel filed for expanded custody.
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And the timing changed everything.
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