Her shoulders shook quietly.

I held both girls until the room darkened and Dana turned on a lamp beside us.

That night, Alice asked whether she should put her shoes next to the door in case we had to leave quickly.

I told her she could put them wherever she liked.

Then I placed my own shoes near the door, because healing did not mean pretending we weren’t frightened.

<strong>PART 4: The Story He Wanted Everyone to Believe</strong>