Edward smiled.
“Whatever you want.”
That night, Claire stood outside with Lily bundled against her chest.
The stars were out.
The air was cold and clean.
She thought about her parents sitting in a cell.
She thought about Vanessa’s face when the verdict was read.
She thought about all the years they made her feel small.
And she felt nothing.
Not anger.
Not grief.
Nothing.
They were gone.
And she was free.
Spring came slowly.
The snow melted.
The trees turned green.
Claire started taking walks with Lily in a stroller Edward had bought.
They went to the park.
They went to the library.
They went anywhere Claire wanted.
One afternoon, she ran into an old friend from high school.
Jessica.
They’d been close once, before Claire’s parents started isolating her.
Jessica’s face lit up.
“Claire? Oh my God, is that your baby?”
Claire smiled.
“Yeah. This is Lily.”
Jessica knelt down and waved at Lily.
Lily kicked her legs and gurgled.
