Sometimes, Elara would brew them a pot of herbal tea. Julian would always thank her politely, and Lily would sweetly say, “Thank you, Auntie,” before burying her head back in her book.
One sunny Saturday, Julian suggested taking Lily to the amusement park.
“You should come too,” he pushed up his glasses, inviting sincerely.
“Lily keeps talking about wanting to go with you.”
Elara initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Lily’s expectant eyes, her heart softened.
The amusement park was bustling. Lily, holding Julian’s hand in one and Elara’s in the other, ran around excitedly.
They rode the carousel, played bumper cars, and even waited in line for the Ferris wheel.
3:48 pm D
<
When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, Lily suddenly pointed at the distant clouds.
“Mommy lives up there.”
Elara’s heart tightened.
Julian gently pulled Lily into his embrace, whispering, “Mommy is watching Lily from heaven. She wants Lily to be happy every day.”
Lily nodded, then suddenly turned to Elara. “Auntie, can you be Lily’s new mommy?”
The air instantly froze.
Elara didn’t know how to answer. Julian quickly intervened, “Lily, don’t talk nonsense.”
“I’m not talking nonsense!” Lily’s small face flushed. “I like Auntie! Auntie likes Lily too, right?”
Elara looked at the little girl’s stubborn expression, suddenly thinking of Mia-
She was just like that; once she decided on something, she would stubbornly stick to it.
“Of course, Auntie likes Lily,” she said softly. “But a mommy is unique. No one can replace her.”
Lily nodded, as if understanding, and leaned back into Julian’s embrace.
On the way home, Lily fell asleep in the back seat.
Julian drove, occasionally glancing at Elara in the rearview mirror.
“Thank you for accompanying her today,” he said softly. “She hasn’t been this happy in a long time.”
Elara shook her head. “I had fun too.”
Outside the car window, the sunset painted the clouds a dazzling golden-red.
Elara unconsciously raised her hand to block the sun, and her sleeve slipped, revealing a scar on her
wrist.
Julian’s gaze lingered on the scar for a second, then quickly moved away.
But for the rest of the drive, his brow remained slightly furrowed.
3:48 pm D
<
A week later, Julian came to the bookstore alone, carrying a thermos.
“This is an herbal tea I made myself to help with sleep,” he handed the cup to Elara, saying softly.
“It might help you sleep better.”
Elara paused, then asked, surprised, “How did you know I have trouble sleeping?”
Although she had left that place, she seemed to have never forgotten the past. Countless nights, she woke up from nightmares.
Julian pushed up his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses gentle and perceptive.
“You forgot, I’m a doctor? You can actually ask me for help with anything… I think, by now we should be good friends, right?”
Elara unconsciously pulled down her sleeve, covering her wrist.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked,” Julian quickly said.
“It’s just… as a doctor, and as a friend, I hope you take care of yourself.”
Elara was silent for a moment, then finally smiled, her eyes crinkling. “I understand. Thank you for
the tea.”
“If I truly need help in the future, I’ll definitely ask you. Don’t worry.”
After that, Julian came more frequently, sometimes with Lily, sometimes alone.
Each time he came, he would bring small things-a bouquet of wildflowers, a box of homemade cookies, or a fresh batch of herbal tea for sleep.
Elara gradually grew accustomed to this companionship. Sometimes, watching Julian and Lily read in the bookstore, she would almost believe that this was the life she had always yearned for-
Simple, peaceful, filled with warmth.
One rainy night, Elara was tidying the bookshelves when the doorbell suddenly rang.
Julian stood outside, soaked to the bone, holding a feverish Lily in his arms.
3:49 pm
