Chapter 2

The next morning, Lily woke up early.

She dressed herself, brushed her teeth, and ran to the kitchen door, whispering, "Daddy, is Charlotte awake?"

I paused my cooking. "She already left."

"Oh." Lily's shoulders slumped, but then she looked up again. "Can she make it to the family craft day later?"

I knelt down and looked into her eyes. "Lily, Daddy is going with you today, okay?"

Lily bit her lip, staying silent.

After a long moment, she nodded slowly. "Okay."

But her eyes were filled with a profound disappointment she couldn't hide.

The family craft day was themed "Parents and Kids DIY."

In the classroom, every other child had both their mom and dad sitting beside them. Only Lily sat with just me.

While we were cutting paper, a little boy next to us asked his mother, "Mom, why does Lily only have her dad here?"

His mother whispered back, "Shh, don't ask. Probably a broken home."

Lily kept her head low, her hands crumpling the colored paper in her lap.

I reached out and wrapped my arm around her. "Hey, Lily. Daddy’s going to make the coolest project with you, okay?"

Lily looked up, her eyes red, but she forced a brave smile. "Okay."

Near the end of the event, the teacher announced it was time for a group family photo on stage.

The other kids eagerly dragged their parents up, laughing and shouting.

Only Lily sat frozen in her seat.

"Lily, do you want to go up and take a photo?" I asked gently.

Lily shook her head. "Daddy, can we just go home?"

She took my hand and led me out of the classroom. But as we reached the exit, she couldn't help but look back one last time.

I knew what she was looking at.

She was watching the other kids holding their mothers' hands.

On the drive back, Lily didn't say a single word.

As we reached our porch, she suddenly asked, "Daddy, does Charlotte hate me?"

I froze.

Lily looked up, tears finally spilling over. "Is it because I'm not good enough? I can be better, Daddy. I won't ask for snacks anymore, and I won't bother her. I just want her to like me..."

I knelt down and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"No, Lily. It’s not your fault. It is never your fault."

Lily cried into my shoulder, her little body trembling. "Then why... why doesn't she want me?"

I didn't know how to answer.

Because I wanted to ask the same thing.

*Charlotte, why don't you want us?*

***