I frowned at her.
My sister nodded. “Li came to me about six months ago. Said she needed help with something important. At first, I thought it was just school stuff, but then she showed me her plan. She used her birthday money and what she made babysitting Mrs. Greene’s kid downstairs. I helped cover the cost of the unit.”
I looked around again, overwhelmed.
“She made me promise not to tell you,” Judy said. “She said you weren’t ready yet.”
I let out a shaky breath. “She was right.”
Judy nodded toward the last box.
“There’s one more thing.”
“She said you weren’t ready yet.”
I walked over slowly.
The final box sat slightly apart from the others.
Inside was a single envelope: “LAST ONE.”
A small video drive slipped into my palm when I opened it.
“That’s it?” I asked.
“That’s the most important one,” Judy said. “I brought my laptop.”
Of course, she had.
***
Judy opened her laptop while I held the drive tightly as we sat in her car.
“You ready?” she asked.
I wasn’t, but I nodded.
“That’s the most important one.”
The video loaded, and then Lily appeared.
She was sitting on her bed, looking straight at the camera.
My breath caught.
“Hi Mommy…”
I covered my mouth.
“If you’re watching this, it means you stayed stuck longer than I hoped.”
A weak laugh escaped me.
“I know you,” she said gently. “You’re probably not leaving the apartment unless you have to. You’re not answering calls. So, listen… I need you to do something for me.”
I shook my head slightly, already overwhelmed.
I covered my mouth.
“You don’t get to stop living just because I’m not there. So here’s the plan. You’re going to go back to my school and talk to the librarian. And you’re going to volunteer there.”
I frowned through tears and glanced at Judy.
“There’s always a kid sitting alone in there,” Lily continued. “Someone who feels invisible. I’ve seen them.”
Her voice softened again.
“Go find one of them, Mom. Help them. The way you always helped me.”
Tears streamed down my face.
“You don’t get to stop living.”
The screen flickered for a second.
“And Mom… don’t do it for me.”
She smiled just a little.
“Do it because you’re still here.”
The video ended.
We sat in silence.
“I think she just planned my next step,” I said quietly.
Judy gave a small smile. “Sounds like Lily.”
I nodded.
For the first time in weeks, I knew what to do.
“I think she just planned my next step.”
***
My sister and I brought the boxes home that evening.
We didn’t rush through them this time.
I read a few letters and cried through most of them. But I laughed at one.
Judy stayed until late, then hugged me tight before leaving.
“Call me.”
“I will,” I answered.
And at that time, I meant it.
