“So you know that it was not for nothing.”

“It was not for nothing,” I said.

I looked at Lily.

She was looking at my hand on the glass.

She raised her own small hand, her fingers spread wide, and pressed it against mine.

The plastic was thick, but I felt the warmth of her presence.

“Goodbye, Daddy,” she said.

She did not know what the word meant, not really.

But she said it anyway.

“Goodbye, my sweet girl,” I whispered.

Claire took the receiver back.

“Be safe, Adrian,” she said.

“You too, Claire,” I said.

She hung up the phone.

She stood up and zipped Lily’s yellow coat.

She took the girl’s hand in her own.

They walked toward the heavy wooden door that led to the outside lobby.

Lily turned and waved to me once before they reached the exit.

I raised my hand and waved back.

The door opened, letting in a flash of bright, winter sunlight.

Then it closed, and they were gone.

I sat on the steel stool for a long time, listening to the hum of the dial tone.