I could smell the burnt milk before I even opened the door. When Marcus and I stepped into the foyer,
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Chapter 4 / 5
CHAPTER 4: HEALING
That night, the house felt different.
Quieter… but lighter.
Lily slept peacefully after getting proper care. Her fever finally breaking.
Maya sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, staring at nothing.
Marcus approached slowly and knelt in front of her.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Two simple words—but they carried everything.
Maya shook her head weakly. “You didn’t see it…”
“I should have,” he replied. “You shouldn’t have had to handle this alone.”
Tears filled her eyes again—but this time, they weren’t from exhaustion.
“I felt like I was failing,” she whispered.
Marcus took her hands gently.
“You weren’t failing,” he said. “You were surviving.”
May you like
He rested his forehead against hers.
“And I promise… you’ll never have to do that alone again.”
