L&T Invisible Things

Chapter 3: Invisible Things

A few years had passed since Emily first knocked on Grandma’s door.

The backpack she once brought Lily had long since been outgrown.

So had the little girl who wore it around the living room all afternoon because someone had noticed she needed one.

But Emily was still there.

Month after month had quietly become year after year. Over time, Emily began noticing things that were harder to see.

Things you couldn’t put in a grocery bag.

Things a new backpack couldn’t fix.

She noticed how Lily always seemed to know where Tobin was.

If he wandered too far at the park, Lily called him back.

If he forgot his sweatshirt, Lily carried it.

If he was hungry, Lily found him something to eat.

And when Emily asked Lily what she wanted to do...

Lily almost always looked at Tobin first.

“Whatever he wants is fine.”

Lily was still a child.

But somewhere along the way, she had become very good at being responsible for someone else.

One afternoon, Emily stopped by and asked Lily if she wanted to come along while she ran a few errands.

Lily glanced toward Tobin.

“Can he come?”

Emily smiled.

“Not today. I was hoping it could just be you and me.”

Lily hesitated. Her worry for Tobin was deeply rooted. She knew grandma was safe but she couldn't help it.

Grandma encouraged her to go. She and Emily had been planning this for a few weeks, and Grandma was glad Lily would get some one-on-one time with her. Besides, she was looking forward to having a little time with Tobin herself while they were out.

So Lily went.

They didn't do anything particularly exciting.

They wandered through a few stores.

Emily bought them something to drink.

They sat in the car longer than they needed to afterward, talking about school.

About a girl in Lily’s class who was driving her crazy.

About the book Lily couldn't put down.

About what Lily thought she might want to be someday.

Not Grandma.

Not Tobin.

Lily.

And for an afternoon, no one needed anything from her.

She didn't have to watch the clock or make sure her brother was okay.

She didn't have to read the room before deciding what version of herself was safest to be.

She just got to be a kid.

It was such a small thing.

Emily probably didn't know then how much those afternoons would come to mean.

Neither did Lily.

But something was changing between them.

Emily had started as someone who showed up for their family.

Slowly, she was becoming someone who knew Lily.

Not just what she needed.

But who she was.

To be continued...