Chapter 23

Lily's eyes fluttered open, the soft light of morning peeking through her curtains. She groggily rubbed her eyes, blinking a few times before realizing she had slept in later than usual. Her starry pajamas still clung to her small frame as she stumbled out of bed, her feet dragging against the cold floor.

The familiar, comforting scent of pancakes wafted from downstairs, causing Lily to perk up immediately. She grinned and hurried down the stairs, her stomach growling.

When she entered the kitchen, she found David standing by the stove, humming a cheerful tune as he flipped pancakes. The warm glow from the kitchen light bathed everything in a soft, golden hue. A small vase with a single white flower sat on the table, a simple yet festive touch that made the morning feel special.

Lily's sleepy voice broke the silence. "Pancakes?" she mumbled, still yawning.

David looked up from the stove, his face lighting up with a smile. "Good morning, sleepyhead! Happy New Year!" He carefully flipped another pancake onto the stack.

Lily's eyes sparkled as she rubbed her eyes again, finally waking up fully. "Happy New Year! Did the pancakes make it to 20XX too?"

David chuckled. "They sure did. Want to help me flip the last one?"

Lily grinned, excitement replacing her sleepiness as she scampered over to the stove. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed, standing on her tiptoes to grab the spatula. With a small flick of her wrist, she tried to flip the pancake, but it landed slightly askew on the plate.

"Oops!" Lily giggled. "Looks like my pancake needs a little more practice."

David laughed and slid the spatula back into her hand. "You'll get it next time. Pancakes are tricky business."

They sat down at the table, the morning sun casting soft light on the scene. The table was filled with pancakes, syrup, and fresh fruit. A pile of fluffy pancakes was stacked high in front of Lily, and she excitedly reached for a star-shaped pancake, carefully adding strawberries to make a smiley face.

"So, Lily," David said, taking a sip of his coffee, "what's your big plan for 20XX?"

Lily paused, deep in thought, her eyes narrowing as she pondered. "Hmm… I'm going to eat more pancakes!" She raised an eyebrow, then added seriously, "And I'm going to learn to do a cartwheel!"

David grinned. "Solid goals. My resolution is to make sure you eat lots of pancakes… and maybe learn to cook something new."

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "You can make pancakes shaped like animals! Like a panda pancake!"

David laughed, amused. "I'll try that one day. It's a good goal."

After breakfast, David suggested they make some calls to friends and family to exchange New Year's greetings. Lily eagerly grabbed the phone and plopped down cross-legged on the couch, her eyes wide with excitement. She was about to call Joon, her friend from the orphanage, and couldn't wait to chat.

David busied himself cleaning the kitchen, glancing over at Lily with a smile as she settled in with the phone.

Lily put the phone to her ear, her voice soft at first. "Joon! Did you eat pancakes today?"

Joon's voice crackled through the phone, followed by his enthusiastic response. "No! We had rice cakes and soup. I had TWO bowls!"

Lily's eyes grew wide. "Whoa! Did you explode?"

Joon laughed on the other end. "Almost! Mina says hi too!"

Lily grinned. "Hi, Mina! Happy New Year!" She laughed, her joy spilling over as she chatted with her friends. It was moments like this that made her feel happy inside.

After a few more phone calls, it was time for a walk. The crisp winter air greeted them as David and Lily left the house, Lily twirling in her star cape like she was some kind of superhero. David followed her with a playful smile, watching her skip ahead.

David chuckled, shaking his head. "What's your first heroic mission of the year, Lily?"

Lily pointed dramatically, her cape fluttering behind her. "Save that dog from being too cute!"

A friendly neighbor strolled past with their dog, and Lily waved excitedly.

Neighbor laughing "She's off to a great start already!"

Lily beamed at the compliment, her confidence growing as she skipped ahead. The neighborhood was quieter than usual, the streets lined with snow, but a few families were out enjoying the peaceful New Year's day.

David smiled, watching her, his voice playful. "You're really living up to the superhero title, Lily."

After their walk, David prepared hot chocolate for them both, complete with marshmallows. They settled into the cozy living room, with a soft blanket draped over them as they curled up on the couch. Lily picked out a storybook and handed it to David.

"Can we read the one about the lost star?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

David raised an eyebrow. "Again? That'll be the third time this week!"

Lily pouted slightly. "It's my favorite!" she said, her eyes pleading.

David sighed, a grin tugging at his lips. "Alright, star superhero. Let's find that star again."

As David read the familiar story, Lily snuggled against him, the warmth of the blanket and the crackling sound of the fireplace creating a peaceful atmosphere. It felt perfect.

As the day wound down, Lily grabbed her little diary, flipping through the pages as she drew pictures of her New Year adventures—pancakes, stars, and her superhero dog rescue. David worked on his laptop nearby, glancing over at her as she concentrated.

Lily paused in her drawing and proudly showed it to him. "Look! It's a pancake superhero saving the day!"

David looked down at the picture, laughing. "A pancake superhero, huh? That's a first."

Lily grinned. "And that's you. You're making pancakes."

David chuckled. "A very accurate portrait."

Lily smiled as she closed her diary, her heart light and happy. It had been a perfect day. The New Year had started, and she was surrounded by people she loved, in a place that felt like home. Everything felt right.