As soon as Lilly stepped out of the school gate, she spotted her mother's car idling near the curb. A bittersweet smile tugged at her lips as she ran toward the vehicle. Sliding into the passenger seat, she chirped, "Hi, Mom!" in her brightest tone, hoping to mask the lingering tension from the day.
Her mother, however, didn't respond with her usual warmth. Instead, her face seemed clouded with sadness, her gaze distant as though lost in thought. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice soft and hesitant. "Did you have a good day at school, sweetheart?"
"Yes, Mom. I answered all the teacher's questions!" Lilly forced a cheerful reply, her voice almost too enthusiastic. "Do you think I'm doing well?"
Her mother managed a faint smile. "Yes, my dear. You're very talented." But her words felt hollow, as if spoken from a place far away. Silence hung heavily between them for the rest of the drive home. Lilly's heart clenched, and dark thoughts crept into her mind. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.
When the car rolled into their driveway, her mother's gentle voice pulled Lilly out of her spiraling thoughts. "We're home now, Lillyana."
Lilly blinked and looked at her mother with a dazed expression. "What are you thinking about, honey?" her mother asked, worry flickering in her eyes.
"Nothing, Mom," Lilly mumbled as she stepped out of the car. She rushed inside, hoping to escape the suffocating tension. But as she entered the living room, she froze. Her father was sitting on the couch, his hands clasped tightly in his lap, his expression grave.
"Come here, Lilly," he said, gesturing to the seat beside him. "I need to talk to you about something important."
Her mother followed closely behind, her face pale and drawn. She avoided meeting Lilly's eyes as she sat down on a nearby chair, her hands fidgeting nervously.
The room fell into a heavy silence before her father finally spoke. "Lillyana... your mother and I have decided to live separately for a while."
The words hit Lilly like a thunderclap. She stared at her father, unblinking, her lips trembling as if trying to form a response. "Why?" she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her father reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "This isn't your fault, sweetheart. Your mother and I... we just need some time apart. You and your mom will stay here, and I'll be living somewhere else for now."
Before Lilly could fully process his words, her father stood and walked toward the door, his movements hurried as if he couldn't bear to stay any longer. Her mother rose, her eyes brimming with tears, and took a step toward him but then stopped herself.
"Why are you leaving us?" Lilly's voice cracked as she choked back tears.
Her father turned, his face filled with pain. "I'm sorry, Lilly. I hope one day you'll understand." And with that, he walked out the door, leaving behind the family he had loved for over a decade.
Lilly's mother collapsed onto the couch, sobbing uncontrollably. Lilly knelt beside her, wrapping her arms tightly around her. "It's okay, Mom. I'm here. I'll take care of you," she whispered, her own tears finally spilling over.
Her mother stroked Lilly's hair, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry, my darling. I tried everything... but I couldn't hold him back."
"You don't have to apologize, Mom," Lilly said firmly, wiping away her mother's tears with trembling hands. "I'll be strong for both of us."
Later that evening, the house was eerily quiet. Dinner was a solemn affair, the clinking of silverware the only sound between them. As Lilly climbed the stairs to her room, she felt like a ghost, her steps heavy with sorrow. Once inside, she locked the door, sank to the floor, and buried her face in her hands, letting the tears flow freely.
"Lillyana... don't cry."
A cold, deep voice made Lillyana jerk her head up.
Standing by the window was the man in black. His dark cloak billowed slightly, though the air in the room was still. Strangely, Lillyana didn't feel afraid. Instead, she stared at him, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the window.
"How did you get in here?" she asked, her voice shaky.
The mysterious man in black slowly approached Lillyana. Strangely, she didn't feel afraid and remained still. The man's hand gently wiped away the lingering tears at the corner of Lilly's beautiful eyes. It was then that Lilly had a chance to look closely at his face. She was slightly taken aback by its flawless perfection. From her childhood until now, she had never encountered a man with such an indescribably beautiful face. Moreover, he possessed a magnetic allure that made her heart skip a beat. It felt as if she were being drawn into his deep, captivating black eyes.
Lillyana blinked slowly, her breath unsteady as she struggled to break free from the pull of his fathomless black eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat a thunderous echo in the quiet stillness between them. For a moment, words failed her, caught somewhere between doubt and longing. Finally, her voice emerged, soft but resolute.
"Who... who are you?" she asked, her gaze never leaving his. Her fingers curled tightly in her lap as if bracing herself for the weight of his answer.
"Don't be afraid, Lillyana. I will help you." The man reached into his cloak and pulled out a shimmering silver thread, woven with tiny specks of light that looked like stars. It glimmered with an ethereal glow, filling the room with a soft, otherworldly light. "This is the Thread of Destiny. Tie it around a photograph of your family, and the bond between you will never break again."
Lillyana hesitated as she took the thread from his hand. It was cool to the touch, like holding freshly fallen snow. "Why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
His lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes remained unreadable. "Because it is my role. I am the keeper of fates. You may call me... Roman."
"Roman..." she murmured, but before she could ask more, he vanished, leaving her alone with the silvery thread in her trembling hands.
Lillyana scrambled to her desk, pulling out the family photo album. Her fingers trembled as she flipped through the pages until she found a picture of the three of them—her father, her mother, and herself, smiling brightly in a moment of happiness frozen in time. She gently tied the glowing thread around the photo.
As soon as the knot was secure, the thread flared brightly, then vanished, leaving no trace. Lillyana stared at the photo, her heart hammering. Then, faint voices drifted up from the living room.
She rushed downstairs and stopped in her tracks. There they were—her mother and father, sitting together on the couch, laughing softly as they watched TV. The warmth in their voices was real, as if the events of the day had never happened.
"Mom... Dad!" Lillyana cried, running to them and throwing her arms around their shoulders. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to them. "Please don't ever leave me again."
Her mother stroked her hair, smiling gently. "Sweetheart, we're not going anywhere."
Her father kissed the top of her head. "We'll always be here, Lilly. I promise."
As the family held each other close, Lillyana silently whispered, "Thank you, Roman... thank you."