Chapter 17 - Lily becomes afraid of the floor
For two months Lily avoided the central hallway.
She walked around through the library.
No one forced exposure.
Then she became angry at herself.
“I’m not scared.”
“You can be.”
“I’m not.”
“Okay.”
“I just don’t like.”
“Also okay.”
We removed the damaged rug.
Police had released the area after processing.
The hatch remained open during structural inspection, surrounded by barriers.
Lily hated seeing it.
I considered sealing it immediately.
Her therapist said:
“Ask what she wants to understand first.”
So I did.
“What do you want to know about the hatch?”
“Can people still go down?”
“Yes, workers.”
“Claire?”
“No.”
“Marcus?”
“No.”
“Grandpa?”
“No.”
“Me?”
“If you ever wanted, with adults and when construction makes it safe.”
She stared.
“No.”
Done.
We eventually converted the shelter into secured records storage with code-compliant ventilation, lights, and an interior emergency release.
Why keep it?
Demolition would require structural work.
Also:
A room is not guilty.
That was an idea I had to learn repeatedly.
The hatch was replaced with a clearly visible service door off the lower hall during renovation.
No concealed rug.
No hidden access.
The marble was repaired.
Lily walked across it six months later without comment.
I noticed.
She did not.
May you like
Better.
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