Chapter 21 - The Morning Light
The next morning, Liam and Lily walked down to the beach at dawn.
The tide was low, leaving perfectly smooth, glassy sand that reflected the rising sun. Lily ran ahead, searching for the perfect seashells to add to her growing collection on the cottage windowsill.
Liam walked slowly, feeling the cold water wash over his bare feet.
He thought about the cold, jagged mountains of his youth, the sprawling, suffocating manor, and the endless paranoia that used to define his every waking moment. It felt like a lifetime ago. It felt like a story belonging to someone else.
"Papa, look!"
Lily held up a massive, perfectly intact conch shell.
"It's a castle for the crabs!"
May you like
Liam laughed, a deep, resonant sound that carried over the waves. He knelt down beside her, examining the shell with absolute fascination.
"It's the best castle I've ever seen," he agreed.
