The study was filled by dawn, a soft warm and gentle light. Lily sat down on the floor. A candle stub here and there seemed to flicker out by themselves. She felt shattering glass scattered over her floor. Lying flat in her hand, its magic now dormant, the amulet. It seemed an immense relief; deep within her, she wept.
Mr. Armitage stood next to her. There was pride and worry reflected in his face. "You did well, Lily. You confronted your phobias and ended the vicious cycle. But keep this in mind, Lily. Shadows are not entirely erasable. They retreat, but they might rise again, if permitted."
"I see," she replied, hoarsely steady. "I'm ready to face what comes next. I'm not going to let my past control my life.
As the sun rose even higher, casting a yellowish glow in through the windows, she felt weighed down by the love surrounding her from her grandmother-the warmth of spirit guiding her on. That strength, she would take forward while still honoring family legacy with a path carved uniquely as hers.
In the following days, she began cleaning up the house from a prison of shadows into one full of light. The attic once again became an attraction to her, but the mirror still sat there, covered this time by an old sheet.
It seemed the place she came out of after fighting through the deepest of her fears; the same place where her spirit and determination helped her come out on top. She handled it with a gentle care as she surveyed the glass that reflected in it, but this was another version of her-a strong and tough woman who's ready to face the world again.
The shadows had been defeated, but the burden of her family's legacy would live through her, reminding her of their hardships and their victory. Coming full circle, Lily chose to make over the house into a haven, where others may find solace and strength just as she had done.