She shook her head against my chest.
“You didn’t know.”
“But I should have asked better questions.”
For a few moments, none of us moved.
Then Emily whispered something that made my heart ache.
“Can you please not make me go back there alone?”
I kissed the top of her head.
“You will not have to face this alone again.”
We drove to the school together.
Emily rode with me, while Mark followed in his old pickup truck.
During the drive, she stared out the window and twisted the sleeve of her hoodie between her fingers.
I wanted to reassure her every few seconds, but I knew she needed more than promises.
She needed to see us act differently.
When we arrived, I asked the front office to arrange an immediate meeting with the school counselor and an administrator.
At first, the receptionist looked surprised.
“Do you have an appointment?”
