Chương 8 - THE THING MEGAN FINALLY ADMITTED
Megan had avoided one question for months.
Had Avery seen Lily before the crash?
Not vague imaginary-friend talk.
Actually described her?
She went through old drawings.
Boxes of preschool papers.
Most meaningless.
Cats.
Princesses.
Purple houses.
Then one picture stopped her.
Dated three weeks before Gabe’s accident.
A child beside a motorcycle.
Yellow boots.
Blue butterfly.
Megan sat on the bedroom floor.
Avery had drawn Lily before ever meeting Gabe.
She checked her phone photos.
The drawing was visible in the background of a picture taken that week.
Timestamp intact.
No possibility Megan created the memory afterward.
She called Gabe.
He arrived twenty minutes later.
Megan placed the drawing on the table.
He said nothing.
“Three weeks before.”
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“Could she have seen Lily online?”
“She couldn't spell Lily then.”
“Preschool?”
“I asked.”
“No connection?”
“None.”
Gabe sat.
For months they had treated Avery’s statements with careful distance.
Good.
Necessary.
But now Megan was tired of pretending nothing strange remained.
“I don't know how she knew.”
Gabe looked at the drawing.
“Neither do I.”
“I hate that.”
He almost smiled.
“You like answers.”
“I work in billing.”
“Obviously.”
She sat beside him.
“What do you believe?”
Gabe thought for a long time.
“I believe my daughter died.”
“Yes.”
“I believe Avery saved my life.”
“Yes.”
“I believe Ryan cut my brakes.”
“Proven.”
He nodded.
“And I believe there are parts between those facts I cannot explain.”
Megan stared at him.
“That’s it?”
“What do you want? A séance?”
She laughed despite herself.
Then became quiet.
“I think Avery sees her.”
There.
First time she said it aloud.
Gabe did not celebrate.
Did not declare proof.
He simply took her hand.
“Okay.”
Megan's eyes filled.
“That's all?”
“It's enough.”
She leaned against him.
May you like
For the first time, uncertainty did not feel like danger.
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