Chapter 9 - OUR UNBREAKABLE SKY
Autumn arrived in Chicago.
The annual Harvest Festival filled the park with music, food and golden leaves.
At the center of the outdoor exhibition stood a six-foot canvas.
OUR UNBREAKABLE SKY.
Lily had created it with twenty other children.
A violent sea.
Dark clouds.
And sunlight breaking through.
Claire stood before the crowd.
"When we opened this center, people asked why I kept the Bennett name."
She paused.
"Because for years, that name represented fear."
She looked at Lily.
"But names don't define us."
The crowd listened.
"Our choices do."
Applause erupted.
Lily ran to her mother.
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"Are we happy now?"
Claire knelt.
She looked into her daughter's eyes.
"Yes."
Lily smiled.
"We're really happy."
Mother and daughter walked through the golden leaves.
For the first time, Claire believed the nightmare was over.
She was wrong.
Because some shadows don't disappear.
May you like
They wait.
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