Lila sat on the edge of the couch, her small hands clutching a well-worn teddy bear. She looked around the room, her eyes lingering on a picture of her parents from last summer. "It's not the same without you both," she whispered to the silent room.

Dad smiled, trying to hide the fatigue in his eyes. "How was school today, sweetheart?" he asked, stirring the pasta. Lila shrugged, "It was okay. We learned about the solar system," she replied, absently twirling a strand of spaghetti around her fork.

Lila traced constellations in the sky with her finger, her thoughts drifting to the nights she used to spend stargazing with both her parents. "I wish we could all do this together again," she thought, her heart aching with longing.

Lila and Dad walked along the path, her small hand securely in his. "Do you think Mommy will come with us next time?" she asked, hope threading her words. Dad paused, choosing his words carefully. "Maybe, sweetheart. We'll see," he replied, squeezing her hand gently.

Lila packed her bag, placing her teddy bear on top. "I had a good time, Daddy," she said, smiling up at him. Dad knelt down, pulling her into a hug. "I did too, Lila. I always do," he replied, his voice full of warmth.

Lila took her seat, a hint of a smile on her face as she opened her notebook. "Maybe one day, things will be different," she thought, a flicker of hope in her heart as she began to write about the stars.