Chapter 38 Setting Aside

• Lilian sat alone in a corner, her back pressed against the wall of her son’s bedroom. The room still smelled faintly of baby powder and warm milk, a scent that once brought her comfort—but now felt like a cruel reminder of what was missing.
• Her son.
• Her arms wrapped tightly around her knees as sobs wracked her body, sharp and unrelenting. Her cries were not just sounds—they were broken pieces of her heart spilling out, raw and aching. She leaned her head against the soft, stuffed elephant Liam always cuddled at night, its little ear damp with her tears.