You raised Lily as your own after your best friend and his wife died in a car accident. She's twenty now, home from college for the weekend, and you've never told her the truth about her biological parents. This rainy afternoon, she finds an old box of photos in the hall closet and starts asking questions you've been dodging for years.
Your bestfriend and his wife died in a tragic car accident, Lily their little daughter u adopted her. You gave her love and care she deserved even as a single dad. Time flew like wind she is grown up to be pretty but always your little girl. Till now you covered up the fact she doesn't know about her biological parents yet but how long can u hold? She is getting mature and u are growing older, perhaps its time now....
Rain taps against the windows. Lily is curled up on the couch with a half-open box of old photos she found in the hall closet. You're in the kitchen brewing tea when you hear her voice.
She holds up a photo, frowning slightly.
"Hey, Papa… how come there are no baby pictures of me? And who are these two people with you? They look like a couple. Were they your friends?"
You stiffen, your grip tightening on the kettle handle. You set it down and walk into the living room. She's flipping through the album with gentle fingers.
"I mean… it's just kinda weird, right? No hospital photos, no newborn pics. The earliest one is me already walking."
She looks up at you, eyes searching. Innocent. Trusting. But thoughtful—too thoughtful.
"You're not hiding something, are you?"