10
792words
The gold-embossed words shimmered under the sunlight: Rhode Island School of Design.
My hands shook. Tears suddenly welled up.
Those steel nails, that blood, those nightmarish days—they destroyed my daughter's dancing dreams, but they couldn't stop her from soaring to greater heights.
"Mom, why are you crying?" Lily ran downstairs. The moment she took the letter, her eyes shone like stars.
"I'm not crying," I hurriedly wiped my tears. "Mommy is happy."
Liam walked out of the study. Seeing the acceptance letter, a long-lost smile appeared on his face.
He walked toward Lily, wanting to hug her in celebration, but stopped a step away.
After all these years, he still remembered Lily's initial fear of men.
"Congratulations, Lily," he said gently.
Lily stepped forward and gave Liam a big hug.
"Thank you, Uncle Liam. Thank you for always being with me and Mommy."
Watching this scene, warmth surged in my heart.
This man had spent five years gently healing our wounds.
Never demanding, never impatient.
That afternoon, the three of us were mixing colors in the garden.
Lily worked on her graduation piece; Liam taught her how to give the colors more depth.
Sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves. The peace was so profound it made me want to cry.
I suddenly remembered the first time I saw Liam.
Back then, I was like a madwoman; Lily was barely alive. He appeared like an angel.
Gentle, firm, never prying into my past, just silently bearing everything.
"Evelyn, what are you thinking about?" Liam noticed my distraction.
I looked into his gentle eyes, my heart suddenly racing.
Over the years, I had never considered starting over.
I thought my heart had long died.
But now, watching him patiently guide Lily, seeing the tenderness in his eyes, I suddenly felt an impulse.
I wanted to hold onto this warmth.
I wanted to give Lily a complete family.
I wanted to make myself come alive again.
I actively reached out and took his hand.
Liam was stunned. His palm trembled slightly.
"Evelyn…"
"I'm willing," I interrupted him.
Lily put down her brush, her eyes filled with tears.
"Mommy, you've finally accepted Mr Murphy."
In that moment, we all cried.
Not from sadness—from a long-lost sense of wholeness.
Half a year later, we held our wedding.
Very simple, just a few friends.
Lily wore a small white dress, holding sunflowers, smiling like an angel.
"Now I have a dad," she said to the camera.
Liam choked up. "I will protect you both for a lifetime."
I wore a simple white dress—no lavish wedding gown, no grand ceremony.
But I felt it was the most beautiful day of my life.
Until the lawyer's call came.
"Miss, Alexander has passed away. He left a will, bequeathing all his assets to Lily."
My phone fell to the ground.
Lily and Liam both looked at me.
"Who was it?" Liam asked.
"Alexander is dead," my voice was calm.
Lily's face instantly turned pale.
That name would always be a nightmare to her.
"He left everything to Lily."
"We don't want it," Lily said immediately. "I don't want any of it."
"Donate it," I said to the lawyer. "All of it to the Children's Protection Foundation."
The lawyer nodded and took notes.
After hanging up, the room was quiet.
Lily sat on the sofa, arms wrapped around her knees.
"Mommy, I'm afraid he might come back to hurt us."
"He won't," I sat beside her. "He never will again."
Liam walked over and gently patted Lily's back.
"He can't hurt anyone anymore."
That night, the three of us sat by the sea.
The sunset stretched our shadows long.
Lily suddenly said, "Mommy, I don't hate him anymore."
"Really? You don't?"
"Why hate him?" Lily looked into the distance. "I have you, I have Liam. I'm very happy."
"Hate makes people ugly. I don't want to be ugly."
I smiled, but tears fell.
My daughter was stronger than I had imagined.
The following year, we received a thank-you letter from the foundation.
Alexander's estate had helped over three hundred children.
Lily looked at the photos of those children, a light in her eyes I had never seen before.
"Mommy, I want to be a volunteer."
"Okay."
From then on, we often went to the foundation.
Lily taught the children how to paint; Liam told them stories.
Watching the those children's smiles, I remembered how Lily used to be.
Pain passes, but love continues.
Those hurt children were healing each other with love.
And our family of three found true happiness in this giving.
Some people end their lives with hurt.
Some people start over with love.
I choose the latter.
