Liam printed everything out for my records. I added it all to my documentation folder. 2 days later, I got a call from Lily’s school. The counselor’s name was Alina Hunt, and her voice was gentle but concerned. She told me that Lily had broken down crying during a college planning session. When asked about her home life, Alina said she wished someone had reached out sooner because Lily had been showing signs of anxiety and depression all semester.
My guilt crashed over me so hard I had to sit down. I’d been so focused on making my marriage work that I’d missed my own daughter falling apart right in front of me. Alina reassured me that recognizing the problem and taking action was what mattered now. She said Lily had mentioned that things were better at home recently, and she seemed relieved.
That helped a little, but I still felt like I’d failed the one person who’d always depended on me. On day 31, I came home from work at 5:30. Lily had volleyball practice until 6:00, so the house should have been empty. But when I opened the door, I heard the TV on in the living room. My husband was sitting on the couch with his feet on my coffee table like he owned the place.