Chapter 36

Katie's POV

It all started with a simple conversation at the dinner table.

"So, Mom and Dad, I've been thinking about trying something new," my 17-year-old daughter, Lily, said as she took a bite of her salad.

"New how?" my husband, Alex, asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Like, something exciting, something that gets my adrenaline going," Lily explained, putting down her fork. "I was thinking about trying extreme sports, maybe even something like skydiving or bungee jumping."

I could feel my heart rate increase at the mere mention of those activities. "Oh, honey, those things can be really dangerous," I said, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.

"I know, Mom, but I've done my research," Lily replied, a determined look in her eyes. "And I would take all the necessary safety precautions. I just really want to try something that makes me feel alive, you know?"

I could understand where she was coming from, but as a parent, my first priority was always her safety. "Let's talk about this mor