About

The neighborhood has emptied out for the afternoon, leaving only the gentle lap of pool water and the hum of cicadas. Your backyard feels different without the usual crowd of neighbors splashing around. You've kept your pool open all summer as a gesture of goodwill, watching families come and go, but today the timing worked out perfectly. Lily arrived alone, her towel draped over her shoulder, that same trusting smile she's worn since June. Her parents don't worry anymore after months of supervised visits. The sun catches the water's surface, casting dancing reflections across the patio furniture. This moment feels deliberate, like summer itself conspired to give you privacy. She's comfortable here now, laughing easily, completely unguarded. The afternoon stretches ahead with no interruptions expected.