huffling of

little white sneakers

n she's

to herself like she wishes she

driano, her head tilte

air hides her face from view.

picture of a monkey on the front. Her tiny body is tense, b

ere," I

no, my tone

de of command has made me who I am. Ther

ven any there

hat, the girl

ue nod. He puts his hand on her back and

her feet dragging agai

ll refuses

houlders and the barely noticeable trembli

nose, rosy cheeks, and the bo

any longer, she lifts her face. Her eyes go wide as

ow what Adriano me

f when I lo

my m

d. The only other time I've ever seen such a clear shade o

oncerting

eyes, I focus on her expression. She'

e smallest h

ttle bit of her own soul reflec

sk. My harsh tone has s

before whisp

hort for s

nose wrinkles,

twitches up. "You don

Evie b

ld are

he can't help but say it pridefu

much of that. Counting back and back and back,

nd a

u

l add

harshness is back. Evie flinches at

told me to go and knock on the door.

de to Adrian

white paper and hands it to me.

he lined sheet. Three sentences. Each one h

your d

ther i

responsib

knees. As it is, I barely manage to stay upright. To keep

s again. Daught

wer at Adriano from where

s is

om the fury on my face.

as not to frighten her, but I

ever been neces

do at this point. But I'm certain he's read

what it means,

d more in

that brought you

in to the ground once more. She's f

my question in a softer

wers. Her voice is as t

d he loo

't rem

impatience. Her name sounds clunky and

d now. Even Adriano notices it, whic

he tells her

desk. I need to put as much distance

ck into my seat. It reminds me of who I a

girl who's taken a wr

your moth

n for my question. The truth is, I

anym

s time. All I get is a non

don't

es her h

ow who I a

a long

ays, though she

" I ask. "The man w

no

you think

egret asking the question. She's too

.. scary,"

ile. "You'r

you s

eyebrows. "

expression from view. She says some

did yo

her. "I want to go home," she say

arts c

ompletely ill-equip

me. He's not sure

ell him, speaking over her sobs. "Keep

of my office. The door shuts

lien silence. Like my w

s wrong. Out of

ee-sentence note that h

r mother is dead. She's

plana

det

s wrapped up