Chapter 9 - THE CAGEAdrian wanted the cage destroyed immediately.
Lily said no.
That surprised him.
“Why?”
“I want to see it in daytime.”
His first instinct was to refuse.
Then he recognized the old pattern.
Protect by deciding.
He stopped.
“With your therapist?”
Lily nodded.
So they went.
Daylight changed everything.
The cage looked smaller.
Rustier.
More pathetic.
Lily stood outside.
Noah stayed near the patio.
He did not want to approach.
Nobody made him.
Lily touched the broken latch.
“This is where Daddy broke it.”
“Yes.”
She looked inside.
Then said:
“It smells bad.”
Adrian almost laughed.
Yes.
That was all she said.
Later, she chose to have it removed.
The metal went to recycling.
The concrete pad remained.
Months later, they placed raised garden beds over it.
Lily planted tomatoes.
Noah planted strawberries and then got angry when birds ate them.
The place became a garden.
Not a shrine.
Not a family monument.
Just dirt.
Sun.
May you like
Food.
Something alive where fear had been.
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