Chapter 3: First Notes of Healing
A week passed. The trauma of the incident began to fade, replaced by a quiet, unspoken understanding between Ethan, Sarah, and Lily. Ethan found himself returning from work earlier. He canceled high-society dinners in favor of sitting in his living room, reading reports while listening to the quiet hum of Sarah and Lily in the kitchen.
One rainy Saturday afternoon, Ethan was reading by the window when he heard a sound.
Plink.
He lowered his book. The sound came from the grand piano. He stood up and walked silently down the hall. Peeking around the corner, he saw Lily. She was standing on her tiptoes, her tiny fingers reaching up to press a single white key. She wasn't banging on it; she was listening to the resonance, her eyes closed in pure wonder.
Sarah rushed into the room, gasping. “Lily! No, baby, come away from there!”
“Wait,” Ethan said, stepping into the room. Sarah froze, terror flashing in her eyes. But Ethan simply smiled. He walked over to the piano bench, pulled it out, and sat down. He patted the space next to him.
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“Come here, Lily,” he said.
Tentatively, the little girl climbed onto the bench beside him. Ethan placed his large hands over her tiny ones. “You don’t have to be afraid of it,” he whispered. Together, they pressed a chord. A rich, beautiful harmony filled the room. Lily’s face lit up with a smile so radiant it made Ethan’s heart ache.
