Chapter 15 - The Longest NightWinter settled over the neighborhood.
The family gathered around the fireplace.
Lily opened a book about brave girls who traveled through magical forests.
She rested her head against Mark's knee.
"Did I really save Mommy?"
Mark looked at Sarah.
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
"You helped save me," she said.
Lily smiled.
"I was scared."
"So was I," Sarah whispered.
Mark reached for both of them.
"Courage doesn't mean you're not scared."
He looked at Lily.
"It means you do the right thing anyway."
Lily thought about that.
Then she nodded.
Outside, winter winds moved through the trees.
Inside, the three of them stayed close.
They had survived.
May you like
Not because they were invincible.
But because they had refused to let fear decide what happened next.
Related Stories
Chapter 16 - The Empty ChairMonths passed.
Chapter 17 - The LetterOne spring morning, an envelope arrived.
Chapter 18 - The Last SecretThe investigation revealed nothing immediately.
Chapter 19 - A Family Chooses Its FutureThey could have returned to fear.
Chapter 20 - The Door OpensA year after the morning that nearly destroyed them, the Evans family stood in their backyard beneath a warm summer sky.
