Chapter 6 - The Box With Nineteen Years Inside
Two days later, Roman brought the locked box from his house.
It was larger than Lily expected.
Old cedar.
Scratched.
Heavy.
He placed the silver key in her hand.
"You open it."
Lily inserted the key.
Inside were letters.
Dozens.
Some still sealed.
Shelby stared.
"You kept all of them?"
Roman nodded.
"Every one."
"You said you threw them away."
"I lied."
Shelby picked up the oldest envelope.
Her handwriting looked childish.
"Roman..."
He sat across from her.
"I read some. Ignored others. Kept all."
Lily pulled out one letter.
"What does this one say?"
Shelby looked at the date.
"I was eighteen."
"Read it."
Shelby hesitated.
Roman nodded.
She opened it.
The letter described a cheap apartment, two jobs, fear, and missing her brother even though she hated him.
Lily listened.
Then another.
And another.
One included the first mention of Lily's father.
Another described Lily's birth.
Roman's face went pale.
"You told me?"
Shelby nodded.
"I sent you her picture."
"I never opened that one."
Shelby reached deeper into the box.
A sealed envelope remained.
Roman took it.
His hands shook.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph of newborn Lily.
On the back, Shelby had written:
Her name is Lily. She's the best thing I've ever done.
Roman stared at it.
"You could've known me nine years ago," Lily said.
He looked at her.
"Yes."
"Do you regret it?"
"Every day."
Lily leaned back.
"Good."
Shelby stared at her.
"Lily."
"What? He should."
Roman nodded.
"She's right."
Then Lily surprised them.
"But you're here now."
Roman's expression softened.
She pointed toward the wall.
"Add the baby picture."
He stood and taped it beside the Polaroids.
The room had become a family history.
Not a perfect one.
A recovered one.
Weeks passed.
Shelby completed treatment.
She didn't leave alone.
A recovery counselor helped arrange outpatient care.
Roman paid for an apartment near the hospice, but Shelby refused his first offer.
"No mansion."
"I didn't offer a mansion."
"You were going to."
"I was going to offer security."
"I need normal."
Roman considered that.
"Fine."
"No bodyguards."
"One."
"No."
"Half."
"You can't have half a bodyguard."
Roman frowned.
Shelby smiled.
For the first time, they sounded like siblings instead of strangers.
Lily watched them.
"I want pancakes."
Both turned.
Shelby laughed.
Roman stood.
"Hospital cafeteria?"
Lily made a face.
"No. Real pancakes."
Roman looked at me.
"Can she leave?"
"Not today."
Lily sighed dramatically.
Roman pointed at her.
"Then when you're discharged, pancakes."
Shelby looked at him.
"Don't promise things."
May you like
Roman met Lily's eyes.
"I only make promises I keep."
