his office.
I watched from the dark hallway as he unlocked the bottom drawer of his desk.
He removed the small white box.
Then something metallic. He put both into his pocket.
My heart began pounding. He went upstairs.
Straight to Lily’s bedroom. He closed the door behind him. I stood outside.
At first, I heard nothing.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Open wider.”
Every muscle in my body froze.
Lily’s voice came next.
“Daddy… I don’t want to.”
“Just a little more.”
“Can we stop?”
“Not yet.”
I stepped closer. Then Daniel said,
“I need to see everything.”
My hand went to the doorknob.
But before I opened it, I heard Lily start crying.
Then Daniel whispered,
“Your mother cannot know about this yet.”
I pushed the door open. Daniel spun around. Lily was sitting on the edge of her bed.
Tears were running down her face. Daniel had something small
