The cardigan had been Daniel’s final gift to Lily. She had worn it to his funeral and sometimes slept in it when she missed him. Giving it away seemed significant, although she offered little explanation. The following afternoon, she came home from school with swollen eyes, went straight to her bedroom, and declined even her favorite grilled cheese sandwich. I knew she was upset, but I did not yet understand why.
At six the next morning, Marissa arrived with Annie, who was wearing the cardigan. She handed me a small box containing a flash drive and quietly asked whether I knew why Lily had made the dress. What I watched on my laptop alarmed me enough to hurry upstairs immediately. But when I reached Lily’s room, the empty bed, open window, and damaged flowers suggested she had already climbed outside. I still had unanswered questions, and my immediate concern was finding my daughter and making sure she was safe.