Chapter 5: A Voice from the Wall
"It’s nothing, Dave. You can go back first, thanks." I stared at the wall, willing the stains to become Lily’s face. I missed her so much I could barely breathe. I pressed my forehead to the cold plaster, eyes squeezed shut, desperate for a sign.
Dave called from behind me, "I’ll make some coffee. Since you’re here, Mike, come down and have a cup before you go."
When his footsteps faded, I reached out, brushing the mark with my fingertips. Cold, rough—nothing but plaster. I sighed. If Lily were alive, she’d be twelve now. She’d probably be rolling her eyes at me, glued to her phone, begging for new sneakers. The ache in my chest was almost unbearable.
I turned to go, head down—then a soft voice whispered, "Daddy, you finally found me?" My heart stopped. Lily. I spun around, panic surging, but the hallway was empty. The stain on the wall peeled away, flakes of paint drifting down like snow. Beneath, something pink caught my eye. I dug through the crumbling plaster and pulled out a hair clip—a pink plastic one, chipped at the corner. I hadn’t seen it since that day. Lily had begged for it at Target, and she’d worn it every chance she got. My hands shook as I pressed it to my lips, breathing in the faint strawberry scent that lingered. Tears burned my eyes as I remembered her laughter, her tiny hands in mine.