Lily 3

Summary

• Lily reminisces about falling in love and its risks, with the analogy that there's often not a soft landing.
• Asher, who Lily has an emotional connection with, has ceased communication with her for ten days following a significant conversation.
• Lily struggles with her own vulnerability and how Asher now seems wary of her.
• Despite their distance, Asher has kept Lily's secret from everyone at school, honoring her privacy.
• Lily misses the time she used to spend with Asher and laments the growing gap in her life.
• Maya, Lily’s friend, is aware something is wrong, and Lily lies to Maya about going to the library, instead she visits Asher's house, despite their strained situation.
• Lily enters Asher's unlocked house, expecting to see him, but instead encounters his mother, Olivia, who appears to be unaware of the tension between Lily and Asher.
• Olivia and Lily work together on beehive frames and engage in a conversation that reveals bits about Asher’s character and his family history, including his response to his parents' divorce.
• Lily hurts her finger while working with Olivia and rushes out, deeply upset by the encounter and revelations about Asher, who still regularly visits his father despite Olivia's belief to the contrary.
• Lily briefly reflects on strange occurrences of things falling, paralleling her own experience of falling for Asher.
• Lily's past struggles with fitting into roles and hiding her true emotions from her family are detailed, including a previous dark period in her life.
• Maya has been fired from her job due to a misunderstanding involving a customer, causing her to be grounded by her parents.
• Maya decides to throw a party under the pretense of celebrating womanhood, resulting in Lily assisting in the party planning.
• The party, themed around female solidarity, is interrupted by the arrival of the men’s hockey team, including Asher and his friend Dirk, leading to an uncomfortable situation for Lily.
• Asher reacts badly to seeing Lily at the party and leaves abruptly, deeply affecting Lily.
• Dirk makes an inappropriate joke towards Lily, causing her to retreat to the backyard, only to find the back door locked behind her and Asher sitting outside under a streetlight.
• Lily confronts Asher, imploring him to talk to her; however, Asher remains silent, then leaves after offering his jacket to a shivering Lily.
• Maya finds Lily outside, and they discuss the party and Lily's feelings, with the night ending in Lily's decision to go home.
• Asher unexpectedly appears at Lily's window late at night, leading to a warm and intimate reunion.
• Lily and Asher share personal confessions and affirmations of love, transitioning from hiding and emotional pain to acceptance and physical connection.