Chapter 19 - The Light UpstairsOne year after the flood, Lily celebrated her fourth birthday.
The house was full of balloons.
Music played.
Daniel grilled outside.
Margaret watched Lily chase bubbles across the backyard.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then Lily looked toward the upstairs window.
“Grandma?”
“Yes?”
“I don't think the scary man lives there anymore.”
Margaret smiled.
“No, sweetheart.”
Lily nodded.
“Good.”
Then she ran back to the party.
Margaret looked upstairs.
The curtains moved slightly.
There was no wind.
She walked toward the house.
Before she could reach the door, Daniel called from behind her.
“Mom!”
She turned.
He was holding a small package.
“This came for you.”
There was no name on it.
May you like
Only an address.
Their address.
