She started eating dinner at the table again. She returned to drawing in her bedroom and began talking about school without looking over her shoulder.
One evening, I found her sitting in the backyard with a sketchbook.
She had drawn our family home.
There was a bright light shining through the kitchen window.
I sat beside her.
“That’s a beautiful picture.”
She smiled.
“Do you think things will be normal again?”
I thought carefully before answering.
“I don’t know exactly what the future will look like. But I promise you that you won’t have to face something frightening alone.”
She leaned against my shoulder.
For the first time since I had returned home, she looked peaceful.
The financial questions still needed answers. My marriage needed serious work, and trust could not be repaired with a single conversation.
But one thing was no longer uncertain.My daughter deserved to feel safe in her own home.
