Chapter 60: The First Day
Lily's first day at the diner was a Tuesday.
Maya woke up before the sun, her stomach tight with nerves. She lay in bed for a moment, listening to the quiet hum of the house, the distant sound of a truck on the highway. She could hear Lily moving around in her room, the soft thud of footsteps, the creak of a drawer opening. She felt a surge of pride and fear all at once. She wanted to believe that this was the beginning of something good, that Lily was finally finding her footing again. But she couldn't shake the worry that had taken root in her chest. What if it was too much? What if she wasn't ready? What if she came home and fell apart again? What if she couldn't handle the pressure? What if the weight of it all crushed her? What if she walked in and realized
