Chapter 18 - SEVEN YEARS, FOUR MONTHS, ELEVEN DAYS
The conspiracy is over.
Now comes the emotional cost.
Daniel calculates exactly how long he lost with Lily.
Seven years.
Four months.
Eleven days.
Anna tells him to stop counting.
He says he does not know how.
Lily hears them.
She gives Daniel a notebook.
On the first page she writes:
DAYS YOU DIDN’T MISS.
Daniel asks what it means.
Lily says:
“Start counting from now.”
Daniel breaks down.
This chapter follows ordinary healing.
Therapy.
Court hearings.
Lily introducing Daniel at school as her dad for the first time.
Daniel learning to do her hair badly.
Anna having panic attacks.
Daniel not trying to “fix” them.
Marcus taking responsibility publicly for his part.
Rebecca cooperating.
Victor pleading guilty to Jennifer’s death.
Voss facing federal prosecution.
Jennifer Hale is finally given her own grave.
Daniel attends with Anna.
Her headstone reads:
JENNIFER HALE.
SHE TRIED TO TELL THE TRUTH.
Anna leaves the old Polaroid there for one minute.
Then takes it back.
May you like
“That one belongs to us.”
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