Chapter 4 — Sophie's Last Fear
Months later, Richard and Sophie visited a child therapist together.
Healing came slowly.
Some days Sophie laughed like any other little girl.
Other days she still asked permission before taking a cookie from the kitchen.
One afternoon, Richard told her gently,
"You never have to ask before you eat."
Sophie nodded.
But she didn't move.
Instead, she whispered,
"What if someone gets angry?"
Richard knelt beside her.
"No one ever will."
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then, for the first time since she could remember, she opened the cookie jar herself.
It seemed like the smallest thing in the world.
To Richard, it felt like watching his daughter reclaim her childhood.
Weeks later, Sophie asked if they could visit Emily's grave.
She placed her stuffed rabbit beside the flowers.
"I don't need him anymore," she whispered.
"I know Daddy will stay."
Richard quietly wiped away tears.
May you like
Not because Sophie was still hurting.
But because she finally believed she was safe.
