Chapter 13 - Claire’s Video
On Lily’s seventh birthday, Samuel delivered a video Claire had recorded before she died.
Lily sat beside me.
Claire appeared on screen.
Thin.
Beautiful.
Smiling.
“Hi, bug.”
Lily gasped.
“Mommy.”
Claire talked about school.
Friendship.
Being brave.
Then family.
“Sometimes adults carry pain that started before you were born.”
I froze.
Claire continued.
“You are never responsible for fixing another adult by giving up part of yourself.”
Lily looked at me.
Then Claire smiled.
“Your father will try to solve everything.”
Lily laughed.
“So make him listen too.”
I laughed through tears.
Then Claire said:
“People can be hurt and still hurt others.”
“Understanding why someone did something does not mean you have to let them do it again.”
That became our rule.
May you like
Compassion without access.
Understanding without surrender.
