Chapter 20 - Lily Returns to Water
We flew to Tahiti first.
Two nights.
No island.
Lily swam in hotel pool.
Fine.
Then Bora Bora.
She became quiet on boat.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Want to turn around?”
She thought.
“No.”
Azure Pearl appeared.
White villas.
Turquoise water.
Same beauty.
Different meaning.
Daniel met us privately.
No staff line.
No ceremony.
“Welcome back, Lily.”
She stared at him.
“Were you there?”
“I was working.”
“Did you stop wedding?”
“Your mom told me to.”
She looked at me.
“Code Red?”
I had told her later.
“Yes.”
Lily smiled slightly.
“Good.”
We stayed in a villa on opposite side from event platform.
First day, no visit.
Second, she asked.
We walked.
The platform was empty.
New railing.
She stopped ten feet away.
“That’s where.”
“Yes.”
She touched scar above eyebrow.
Faint now.
“Did Mom slap Grandma?”
“No.”
“She should have.”
I almost laughed.
“We don’t solve hitting with more hitting.”
“I know.”
She sighed.
“Adults.”
We sat.
She did not approach railing.
Fine.
Next morning, she asked for snorkeling lesson in shallow lagoon.
I nearly cried.
Did not make big deal.
Instructor fitted mask.
Lily walked into water.
Stopped at knees.
Then waist.
Then floated.
No applause.
No speech.
Just water becoming water again.
Afterward she said:
“I thought it would feel like falling.”
“Did it?”
“No.”
“What did it feel like?”
May you like
“Warm.”
That was enough.
