The force of the catch knocked Arthur hard down onto his knees.
His knees slammed heavily into the center of the marble floor medallion.
He wrapped his arms tightly around his trembling daughter to absorb the shock.
Deep gasps tore from his chest as he pulled her tiny frame against him.
The giant American flag hung still on the wall right behind them.
Lily clung to her father's crisp suit jacket with frantic little hands.
She sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder while gasping for precious air.
Arthur held the back of her head, trembling from the horrific near-tragedy.
He pulled her into his lap right under the high atrium ceiling.
Arthur: I have got you, you are completely safe now!
Lily: Daddy, I was so scared, she pushed me!
Arthur: Shh, you are safe now, sweetie, daddy has got you.
Arthur closed his eyes for a short moment to calm his racing pulse.
Soft crying filled the vast space of the brightly lit white room.
He brushed the fallen hair away from his daughter's wet face gently.
She was shaking wildly, clutching his lapels like a lifeline.
Arthur felt a terrible heat rise inside his chest as her words registered.
He realized this terrifying event was no simple household accident.
He looked up slowly toward the high balcony far above the floor.
Evelyn was leaning slightly over the railing, staring down in absolute shock.
Her face had turned completely pale as she realized the child had survived.
Arthur glares upward with a look of pure fury and promise of reckoning.
He lifted Lily securely into his arms and stood up from the cold floor.