Benji was propped up on two white pillows, his small shoulders lost in an oversized yellow hospital gown.

He was twisting the green plush tail of his dinosaur around and around in his fingers.

“Grandma?” he said.

I sat down in the vinyl chair beside his bed and tugged the blanket snug over his knees.

“I’m right here, Benji.”

“Are the police gonna take me away?” he asked in a small voice.

“No,” I said.

“Nobody’s taking you anywhere.”