Chapter 18 - The House
The house stayed mine and Lily’s after refinance and settlement.
Not because Daniel was stripped.
He received adjusted equity.
I took larger mortgage.
Worked.
Budgeted.
The garage remained problem.
I could not enter.
Lily could not either.
For two years, boxes piled.
Then one Saturday she said:
“Can we change it?”
“Into what?”
“Not garage.”
We still needed garage.
So we renovated one bay into workshop/art space.
Removed metal chair.
Not preserved as evidence anymore; police had returned after case closure.
I asked Lily:
“Keep?”
She said:
“Trash.”
We discarded.
No burning.
No ritual.
Concrete painted.
Shelves.
Craft table.
Bike rack.
When finished, Lily rolled in on scooter.
“I can leave.”
“What?”
“The chair couldn’t.”
May you like
She meant herself in memory.
Now wheels belonged to her.
