BETWEEN WHAT WAS LOST AND FOUND

CHAPTER 2: WEIGHT OF 7 YEARS

Seven years had passed since Danny died, but the ache in Alexia’s chest still felt as fresh as the day it happened. Life had moved on around her, but her own world had narrowed down to two things: her job and her daughter, Lily.

Alexia walked through the park gate, her bag heavy with grading papers from her tutoring students. The evening sun was setting, casting long shadows across the grass. She scanned the playground, looking for that familiar ponytail.

"Lily!" she called out.

The little girl stopped mid-run. When she saw Alexia, her face lit up, and she sprinted across the grass. Alexia dropped her bag and knelt, catching Lily in a tight hug. For a moment, the stress of the day just melted away.

"Did you have fun today, baby?" Alexia asked, brushing a stray hair from Lily’s forehead.

Lily shrugged, pulling away just enough to adjust her backpack. "It was okay. We played outside for a long time.

They started walking home, hand in hand. The city was noisy, filled with the hum of traffic and people rushing to get home, but in their little bubble, it was quiet. Alexia squeezed Lily’s hand.

"How was school?" Alexia asked, trying to keep her voice bright. "Did you finish your math worksheet?"

"I did. It was easy," Lily said, keeping her eyes on the sidewalk.

Alexia watched her daughter closely. Lily seemed a little quieter than usual, but Alexia told herself she was just tired. Kids had ups and downs.

"How about pancakes for dinner?" Alexia suggested. "Your favorite."

Lily gave a small, genuine smile.

"Pancakes sound perfect."

By the time they got back to their small apartment, the sun was almost gone. Alexia went straight to the kitchen to start the batter, while Lily sat at the small dining table to unpack her bag.

Alexia hummed a soft tune while she worked, trying to keep the mood light. She glanced over her shoulder to check on Lily, but she stopped when she saw her daughter sitting still. Lily’s hand was hovering over her notebook, and her shoulders were slumped in a way that made Alexia’s heart tighten.

"Lily? Is everything okay at school?"

Lily jumped slightly, quickly slamming her notebook shut. "Yeah, Mom. It's fine. Just homework."

Alexia turned off the stove and walked over, resting a hand on Lily’s shoulder. She could see a smudge of dirt on the sleeve of Lily's sweater, and the edge of her notebook was bent, almost torn.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Alexia said gently. "If someone was mean to you, or if you’re having a hard time, I’m here."

Lily gripped the edge of the table. She thought about the older girls at the swings—the way they had called her things she didn't want to repeat, and the way they had knocked her books out of her hands during recess. She didn't want to add to her mother’s sadness. She knew Alexia already carried so much.

Lily looked up and gave her mother a brave, practiced smile. "I'm just tired, Mom. Really. It was just a long day."

Alexia sighed, not entirely convinced, but she didn't want to push too hard. She gave Lily’s shoulder a squeeze.

"Alright. Go prepare the bath"

As Lily walked toward the bathroom, Alexia looked down at the notebook left on the table. She opened it just an inch. There, in messy, rushed handwriting, someone had scribbled,

Go away.

Alexia’s blood ran cold. She closed the book quickly, her hand trembling. She hadn't realized that while she had been struggling to keep them afloat, her daughter had been fighting a war of her own.

Then the words “bastard’s child” jumped off the page.

Alexia stared at them, the ink smearing slightly under her thumb.

The air in the room suddenly felt thin. She felt a cold, sharp anger rise in her chest—not just at the words, but at the idea that someone had hurt her daughter so deeply that they felt comfortable writing such a thing.

She took a slow, shaky breath and closed the notebook. She wasn't going to break down now. Not in front of Lily.

At thirty-one, Alexia had learned that life rarely gave you the luxury of falling apart. When Danny died, she hadn't just lost a husband; she had lost her partner in everything. Since then, she has been a one-woman survival act. She’d spent years jumping from one job to the next—secretarial work where she was treated like furniture, long days as a nanny for families who had everything she didn’t, and now, finally, tutoring. It was enough to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, but the exhaustion was always there, settled deep in her bones.

She wasn't just a mother. She was the one who fixed the leaking faucets, the one who worked the extra hours, and the one who made sure Lily felt loved enough to forget that her father wasn't coming home. She was both mom and dad, and tonight, she had to be the shield.

"Mom? The water's ready," Lily called out from the bathroom.

Alexia pushed the pain down, tucked the notebook safely away, and put on her 'mom' face—the one that was calm, warm, and steady.

"Coming, sweetie," she called back.

The bathroom was filled with the smell of a lavender bubble bath. Lily was already sitting in the tub, her hair pinned up. As Alexia knelt by the side, she carefully washed her daughter’s back, her movements gentle. She looked at Lily—the way her eyelashes were damp, the softness of her skin—and felt a fierce, protective love.

"Rough day?" Alexia asked softly, testing the waters.

Lily leaned her head back against the edge of the tub. "Some girls are just mean, Mom. They talk about things they don't understand."

"You're right," Alexia agreed, tracing a path through the bubbles. "And what they think doesn't define who you are. You’re kind, you’re smart, and you’re mine. That’s all that matters."

Lily smiled, a small, tired movement. "I know."

After the bath, they went to the bedroom. It was small, but Alexia had done her best to make it cozy, with soft blankets and a bookshelf that was overflowing with stories. Lily climbed into bed, pulling the quilt up to her chin.

Alexia sat on the edge of the mattress and opened one of Lily’s favorite picture books.

"Once upon a time," Alexia began, her voice steady and soothing, "in a house made of glass, lived a girl who didn't know her own strength..."

She read until the lines of the book started to blur. She watched as Lily’s breathing deepened, her eyes fluttering shut. Even in sleep, Lily looked so much like the girl Alexia had dreamed of raising.

When she was sure Lily was finally asleep, Alexia kissed her forehead and quietly turned off the lamp. She stepped out into the living room, leaving the door cracked just enough to hear if Lily stirred.

She sat in the dark of the living room, the silence finally pressing in on her. She thought about the notebook. She thought about the cruel words.

Tomorrow, she would go to school. She would handle the teachers, the bullies, and whoever was responsible for this.

But tonight, she just sat there, listening to the hum of the refrigerator, feeling the weight of the double life she was living, and wondering how much longer she could keep the world from breaking them both.