The next morning, Lily didn't go to school. She felt too lost, too numb. The house felt empty and cold, the silence pressing in on her. She barely managed to make herself breakfast, her mind still reeling from the shock of the day before. Suddenly, a gentle knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. It was Mrs. Thompson, her elderly neighbor from next door, a kind woman with soft gray curls and a warm smile. Mrs. Thompson looked worried, her eyes softening as she saw the lost look on Lily's face. "Lily, dear, are you alright? You didn't go to school today," she said. Lily couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She handed Mrs. Thompson the note, her hands trembling. As Mrs. Thompson read it, her face grew solemn. "Oh, sweetheart," she whispered, pulling Lily into a comforting hug. "Come stay with me. You don't have to go through this alone." Mrs. Thompson's kindness felt like a lifeline in a storm, and with nowhere else to turn, Lily took her hand, feeling a glimmer of hope.