Lily stood over her father's tombstone as she listened to the pastor give a short sermon. The pastor spoke about her father's life, highlighting his kindness, strength, and the love he had for his family. Lily felt a pang of sorrow and pride as she listened.

She stood looking elegant in her starched black dress, her mother beside her with a hand on her shoulder, holding an umbrella above their heads. The rain fell gently, a fitting backdrop for the somber occasion.

As Lily stood through the funeral, her father's words echoed in her mind: "Always remain strong and brave. Always stand up for what is right and follow your heart." These words sparked a determination in her heart she didn't know she had before.

Vida watched as the coffin was lowered into the grave. Her mind raced with memories and emotions. So much had happened in her lifetime-so many sacrifices she had made. But now, watching the casket of her beloved husband, she vowed to protect the only person left of her loved husband, Lily. She promised herself she would always love and protect her, to never let her lack anything.

After the funeral, Vida and Lily walked home hand in hand. Once they were inside, Vida knew it was time to have a difficult conversation. She had been dreading this moment but knew it was necessary. As they sat on Lily's bed, Vida took a deep breath.

"Lily, there's something I have to tell you," she began, her voice shaky but determined.

Lily was taken aback. After everything that had happened, what more could top it all? "What is it, Mom?"

"We have to move," Vida said, her eyes filling with tears. "We can't afford this place anymore. Even if we could, it would be a waste of money with just the two of us occupying this big house. Your dad's illness drained us financially, and we need to fill the gaps that have been left open."

Lily just nodded. She wished she could tell her mom that she didn't want to move. She wished she could explain that the house they were living in was a part of her, where she had grown up, where she had many memories of her dad. Leaving would feel like throwing those memories away, like pretending her dad never existed. But she knew her mom was going through even more, so she agreed. "Where are we moving to?" she asked.

"Oh, you'll love the new place," Vida said, trying to sound cheerful.

"It's not as big as this one, but it's delightful in its own way. Plus, I just got a new place to take my profession to a new level too."

Lily stared at her mom as she spoke. She wished she could be as excited, but she couldn't even bring herself to smile. She knew her mom was trying her best, and she didn't want to add to her burden.

"Mom," Lily began softly, "I know this is hard for both of us. I just want you to know that I'm here for you. We'll get through this together."

Vida smiled through her tears and hugged her daughter tightly. "Thank you, Lily. We will get through this. Together."

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of packing and preparing for the move. Lily found herself packing away not just belongings, but memories. She carefully wrapped the photo albums, the trinkets from family vacations, and her father's favorite books. Each item was a reminder of the life they had shared.

On the day of the move, Lily took one last walk through the house. She visited each room, remembering the moments spent there-the laughter, the tears, the love. She stood in her father's study, a place where he had spent so much time. She could almost see him there, working at his desk, looking up with a smile when she entered the room.

"Goodbye, Dad," she whispered. "I promise to stay strong and brave, just like you told me."

Vida and Lily moved to their new home a few months later.

The moving company's truck had already gone ahead of them to unload their belongings. By the time Vida and Lily arrived, the movers were still at work, offering Vida the perfect opportunity to enlist their help in arranging some of the heavier furniture.

"I'll see to it that everything is in," Vida said, her voice authoritative yet gentle.

"You should start unpacking, honey."

"Okay, Mom," Lily replied, settling onto her new bed with a soft thud.

Vida left to oversee the rest of the move, making sure everything had arrived in good condition. Meanwhile, Lily took in her new surroundings. The room was smaller than her old one, but it wasn't the size that made her nostalgic for their previous home. It was the memories of her father that haunted the space.

She scanned the room again. It was a perfect square, the walls adorned with pink flower prints. A small smile crept onto her face as she began to imagine how she would decorate it.

She mentally placed her dresser in one corner, her bed against another wall, replicating the layout of her old room to maintain a semblance of familiarity.

Lily set to work, unpacking her clothes and placing them in the closet tucked into one corner. Each item she unpacked was a step back into the past, a way to keep the memory of her old home alive. But soon, the monotony of folding and arranging grew tiresome. She needed a break, a change of scenery.

She decided to explore the rest of the house, a space she had barely seen. She dropped the clothes she was folding and walked out of her room. As she descended the stairs, her mother's voice floated up to her.

"Lily, honey, where are you going?"

"Just going to check the backyard," Lily replied.

"Okay, dear, be careful," Vida cautioned.

"I will, Mom."

Lily opened the back door and stepped into the backyard. It was spacious, though a bit overgrown with grass. Two oak trees stood tall, one with a swing hanging from its branch. She ran over, plopped onto the swing, and began pushing herself back and forth, enjoying the simple pleasure of the moment.

As she swung, her eyes caught sight of a small window high up on the house. There must be an attic, she realized. Her mother hadn't mentioned it, but attics often seemed inconsequential in the grand scheme of moving.

After a while, she grew bored of the swing and, her curiosity piqued, decided to investigate the attic. She made her way back inside, climbed the stairs, and stopped in front of a small door set into the ceiling. She pulled the latch, and a ladder unfolded, reaching down to the floor.

Climbing up, she entered the attic. The space was dim and dusty, the only light coming from the small window and the open door through which sunlight streamed. The attic was nearly empty, save for a large brown box covered in a thick layer of dust.

Lily's curiosity got the better of her, and she approached the box. Opening it, she found it filled with old books, clothes, and Christmas decorations. "Whoever lived here before must have stored their Christmas stuff up here," she mused aloud.

As she sifted through the items, something caught her eye. A present, wrapped in golden paper and tied with a gleaming satin ribbon.

The tag read, "To Snowflake, from Daddy."

...............................[AFRO PRIDE]..........................