I wasn’t, but I nodded.
“That’s the most important one.”
The video loaded, and then Lily appeared.
She was sitting on her bed, looking straight at the camera.
My breath caught.
“Hi Mommy…”
I covered my mouth.
“If you’re watching this, it means you stayed stuck longer than I hoped.”
A weak laugh escaped me.
“I know you,” she said gently. “You’re probably not leaving the apartment unless you have to. You’re not answering calls. So, listen… I need you to do something for me.”
I shook my head slightly, already overwhelmed.
I covered my mouth.
“You don’t get to stop living just because I’m not there. So here’s the plan. You’re going to go back to my school and talk to the librarian. And you’re going to volunteer there.”
I frowned through tears and glanced at Judy.
“There’s always a kid sitting alone in there,” Lily continued. “Someone who feels invisible. I’ve seen them.”
Her voice softened again.
“Go find one of them, Mom. Help them. The way you always helped me.”
Tears streamed down my face.
“You don’t get to stop living.”
The screen flickered for a second.
“And Mom… don’t do it for me.”
She smiled just a little.
“Do it because you’re still here.”
The video ended.
We sat in silence.
“I think she just planned my next step,” I said quietly.
Judy gave a small smile. “Sounds like Lily.”
I nodded.
For the first time in weeks, I knew what to do.
“I think she just planned my next step.”
***
My sister and I brought the boxes home that evening.
We didn’t rush through them this time.
I read a few letters and cried through most of them. But I laughed at one.
Judy stayed until late, then hugged me tight before leaving.
“Call me.”
