Then, a sound shattered the moment—laughter. Soft at first, then louder. My mother’s chuckle quickly escalated into my father’s booming laughter. It sliced through the air, leaving Lily frozen, her hands hovering above the keys. Her expression crumbled, her lip quivering as tears welled in her eyes.
“Was that your first time playing?” my mother asked, her tone sharp.
Lily stammered, “I-I’ve had two lessons… It’s hard to play with both hands.”
My father’s laughter deepened. “A dog could’ve done better,” he scoffed.
A wave of anger surged through me, memories of their relentless criticism from my childhood rushing back. Taking a steadying breath, I stepped forward. “She’s doing great,” I said firmly, masking my fury.
“Oh, Tom,” my mother waved dismissively. “Don’t be so sensitive. We’re just having fun.”
“Fun?” I replied, my voice low but unwavering. “You call tearing her down fun? Not in my home.”
Their laughter faltered, replaced by defensive indignation. My father stood, face red. “You’re too soft,” he snapped. “She’ll never toughen up like this.”
I stepped closer, my voice steady with conviction. “This is why I struggled for so long—because you couldn’t be kind. I won’t let you do the same to her. It’s time for you to leave.”
They stared, stunned, before reluctantly gathering their things. The door shut behind them, leaving an aching silence. I turned to find Lily wiping away tears.
“Daddy, I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to—”
“No, sweetheart,” I interrupted, pulling her close. “You did nothing wrong. You were amazing, and I’m so proud of you. They were wrong to say those things, but that doesn’t make them true.”
Her tearful eyes met mine, and slowly, she nodded. “Okay, Daddy.”
Later that evening, as Lily went to bed, I sat at the piano, staring at the photo of the two of us. Their criticism had always overshadowed my joy, but I wouldn’t let it steal hers. The next morning, we returned to the piano together.
“Let’s try again,” I said, smiling. “Just you and me.”
Lily nodded, her fingers more confident this time. As the music filled the room, stronger and surer, I knew that together, we would be okay.