He asked me to marry before he died; a year after his funeral, his little girl handed me a box and whispered, “Now you will understand.”

Over time, Daniel and I became close. One afternoon, he took my hand.

“Marry me.

At first I laughed.

Then I saw his face.

He told me that he was afraid to die, but that he was even more afraid of what would happen to Lily. I wanted to know that I would be with someone who loved her.

By then, I already loved her.

“Yes,” I whispered.

Part Three: A Wedding and a Funeral

We got married in room 412. Two nurses were our witnesses, Lily was the flower girl, she wore the rings and was my maid of honor, and never let go of my hand.

Daniel had appointed me legally tutor of Lily.

Two weeks later, he died.

Lily and I moved into her house. The first year was difficult. She had nightmares and was crying for her father. I also made mistakes: I burned the pancakes, I forgot school events, signed the wrong authorization.

But little by little, we become one  family.

One night, Lily accidentally called me “Mom.”

The next day, he said it again, this time on purpose.

We were healing.

Then came the anniversary of Daniel’s funeral.

Part Four: The Box

I was making chicken soup when Lily showed up in the kitchen holding a small cardboard box.

“Dad told me to give you this today,” he said. Before she died, she showed me where I had hidden her. It made me promise that I wouldn’t touch it until today.

Then he looked straight at me.

You still have no idea why he chose you.

I opened the box.

And the whole world stopped.

Inside was Mr. Bunny.

I recognized him instantly. His fur was worn. His ear still had the crooked stitch that I had sewn years ago. His label was still wearing Josie’s initials, written in his trembling lyrics.

I grabbed it and pressed it against my face.

Lily started crying.

I’m sorry, Mom! I didn’t know!

I realized I was terrified.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I said.

Then I saw something under the tissue paper.

A letter.

My name was written in the envelope with Daniel’s handwriting.

Part Five: The Letter

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My hands were shaking as I opened it.

Daniel had written:

“I was there.”