The box.
I told her the truth about Emily’s condition.
And that it came from Carl.
Lily listened without interrupting.
Finally, she said,
“He really thought leaving was protecting us.”
“Yes.”
“Because he was sick.”
“Yes.”
She stared at the table.
“That might be the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I told her something I was still learning myself.
“His reason doesn’t make the decision right.”
She looked at me.
“He should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“He should have let you decide.”
“Yes.”
“But he still loved you.”
“Yes.”
“The love was real.”
“The love was real.”
She went quiet.
Then she admitted she had been angry at Carl her entire life.
Not furious.
Just quietly angry.
He had always been a missing piece.
An absence that somehow still took up space.
“I don’t know how to be angry at someone who was trying to protect me.”
