I frowned.
“No, sweetheart. Why would you ask that?”
She hesitated, then shook her head.
“No reason.”
I never imagined my sweet girl might be paying a price I couldn’t see.
I should have pressed harder.
I should have noticed the shadow that crossed her face.
Instead, I tucked her in and told myself everything was perfect.
***
The next night, that illusion came crashing down around me.
There was a quiet knock on my front door.
That illusion came crashing down around me.
I opened it and was shocked to see the homeless man who usually sat near the school.
His face was red and stained with fresh tears.
He held Alice’s pink lunchbox out to me with trembling hands.
I took it from him.
“She didn’t tell you,” he whispered. “But I can no longer stay silent.”
His face was red and stained with fresh tears.
I finally found my voice.
