At first, I heard nothing.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Open wider.”
Every muscle in my body froze.
Lily’s voice came next.
“Daddy… I don’t want to.”
“Just a little more.”
“Can we stop?”
“Not yet.”
I stepped closer. Then Daniel said,
“I need to see everything.”
My hand went to the doorknob.
But before I opened it, I heard Lily start crying.
Then Daniel whispered,
“Your mother cannot know about this yet.”
I pushed the door open. Daniel spun around. Lily was sitting on the edge of her bed.
Tears were running down her face. Daniel had something small
in his hand. I couldn’t see what it was.
“What are you doing?”
He immediately stepped between us.
“Maggie, stop.”
I stared at him.
“Move.”
“Please. Listen to me first.”
“Move away from my daughter.”
I tried to go around him. He blocked me. My panic turned into anger.
“Daniel!” The continuation read in the comments👇👇‼️‼️
“Maggie, don’t come closer yet.”
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
I could see Lily behind him.
She looked terrified.
“Lily, come to Mommy.”
She looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
She didn’t move.
That was when I started crying.
“Lily, please.”
Daniel finally stepped aside.
She ran into my arms.
I dropped to my knees and held her.
“Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head.
“Did he make you do something?”
She began crying harder.
“I promised not to tell.”
I looked over her shoulder at Daniel.
“What have you done?”
His face
had gone pale.
“I should have told you.”
“Told me what?”
He looked at the little object still in his hand.
Then at Lily.
“Maggie, please don’t panic.”
“Too late.”
I pulled Lily closer.
Then I noticed something on the bedside table.
The white plastic box.
I reached for it.
Daniel moved forward.
“Wait.”
I opened it.
Inside were dozens of tiny objects.
Bits of paper.
Small pieces of clear plastic.
Pieces of eraser.
Tiny scraps of cardboard.
I stared at them.
Then at Daniel.
“What is this?”
He didn’t answer.
I looked at Lily.
