Emma's grip on Lily's hand was firm but gentle as they left the derelict building, the girl's trembling form a stark contrast to the defiance she'd shown moments ago. The looping symbol on Lily's medical book, the note—"E said to keep fighting. Like you did."—and the bruises on her jaw burned in Emma's mind, intertwining with Sophie's bracelet, Noah's star charts, and Ethan's desperate love. The gray sky pressed down, heavy with the threat of rain, as they walked to the car, Lily's silence louder than any words. Emma's heart ached with Lily's fear of her leukemia returning, a fear that echoed Sophie's resignation and Ethan's helplessness, pulling her toward the promise of Paris where Noah said they'd meet.
Inside the car, Lily slouched in the passenger seat, her hoodie pulled tight, her eyes fixed on the window. Emma started the engine, the hum grounding her, but her thoughts raced. "Lily," she said softly, glancing at her, "we're going to see a doctor. Just to make sure you're okay. And we'll talk to your school about the fights. You don't have to do this alone."
Lily's jaw tightened, but she didn't argue, her fingers fidgeting with the zipper of her backpack. "Whatever," she muttered, her voice low, but the tremor in it betrayed her fear.
Emma drove to the local clinic, her mind spinning. Lily's leukemia remission, Sophie's trial, Noah's cryptic symbols—they were pieces of a truth she couldn't yet grasp, but the note's "E" felt like a bridge between them. Ethan. It had to be. But how did Lily know him? And why did the looping symbol appear in every reality, like a signature of her past?
At the clinic, the waiting room was quiet, the fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow. Lily sat rigid, her arms crossed, while Emma filled out forms, her own handwriting eerily familiar from the medical records she'd seen. The doctor, a kind-faced woman named Dr. Patel, called them in, her expression professional but warm.
"Lily Carter?" Dr. Patel said, glancing at her chart. "I understand you're here for a checkup. Any specific concerns?"
Emma spoke before Lily could deflect. "She's been in remission from leukemia for years," she said, her voice steady. "But she's been anxious, reading medical books, and she's got bruises from fights at school. I want to make sure she's healthy."
Lily's eyes flashed with betrayal, but she didn't speak, her hands clenched in her lap. Dr. Patel nodded, her gaze softening as she turned to Lily. "Let's take a look, okay? Just routine tests to ease your mind."
The exam was quick, Lily's silence deafening as Dr. Patel checked her vitals and examined the bruises. "The bruises are superficial," Dr. Patel said, making notes. "Likely from minor trauma, like a fight. But given her history, I'll order bloodwork to rule out any issues. We'll have results in a few days."
Emma exhaled, relief tinged with dread. "Thank you," she said, her voice low. "Lily, do you want to ask anything?"
Lily shook her head, her eyes on the floor, but as Dr. Patel stepped out to prepare the lab order, she whispered, "What if it's back?"
Emma knelt beside her, taking her hand. "If it's back, we fight it," she said, her voice fierce. "You're not alone, Lily. I'm here, your dad's here. We've got you."
Lily's eyes glistened, but she nodded, her grip tightening on Emma's hand. As they left the exam room, Emma's gaze fell to Lily's backpack, where a corner of the medical book peeked out. The looping symbol was visible, scrawled on a sticky note attached to the cover. Her heart skipped a beat. "Lily," she said, her voice trembling, "that symbol. You said you found that book in my office. Where was it?"
Lily froze, her eyes darting away. "Just… in a box," she said, her voice too quick. "Old stuff. I don't know."
Emma didn't believe her, but before she could press, Dr. Patel returned with the lab paperwork. "We'll call with results," she said, handing Emma the forms. "Keep her stress low, okay? She's been through a lot."
Emma nodded, guiding Lily back to the car, her mind racing. Back home, David was waiting in the kitchen, his face lighting up with relief as they entered. "Everything okay?" he asked, his eyes flicking between them.
"For now," Emma said, her voice tight. "Bloodwork's being done. But we need to talk to her school, David. She's being bullied, and it's not just fights—it's about her leukemia."
David's face fell, his hands pausing on the counter. "Bullied?" he said, his voice low. "Lily, why didn't you tell us?"
Lily shrugged, her eyes on the floor. "It's not a big deal," she muttered, but her voice cracked, and she fled upstairs, her backpack slung over her shoulder.
Emma started to follow, but David stopped her, his hand on her arm. "Let her be, Emma," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "You're pushing too hard. And you're still talking about those other kids—Ethan, Noah. It's not helping her."
Emma pulled away, her frustration flaring. "They're not just in my head," she said, her voice trembling. "Lily's note had an 'E' on it—Ethan. The same symbol's on Sophie's bracelet, Noah's drawings. They're connected, David, and I'm going to figure out how."
David sighed, his eyes heavy with worry. "Emma, you need help," he said, his voice breaking. "This isn't healthy—for you or Lily."
But Emma wasn't listening. She pulled the note from her pocket, the looping symbol stark against the worn paper. As she headed upstairs to check on Lily, she found the girl's door ajar, her backpack open on the bed. A small bracelet slid out, the looping symbol engraved on its clasp, identical to Sophie's. Emma's breath caught, her heart pounding. Lily had lied about the book's origin, and now this bracelet tied her to Ethan, to Sophie, to Noah.
"Lily," Emma whispered, clutching the bracelet, "what are you hiding?" The promise of Paris loomed closer, a collision point for her children, but first, she had to uncover the truth Lily was guarding so fiercely.