She knelt to say goodbye to the children.

Lucas surprised her with a hug.

He had once watched every adult with suspicion; now he chose carefully whom to trust, and he didn’t seem ashamed of needing reassurance.

We drove to the park afterward and ate sandwiches with tomatoes on the side.

The youngest three chased one another around the grass while Lucas and Nora shared a kite.

Eli stayed beside me for a few minutes, looking at the courthouse parking pass on the dashboard.

‘Why did that man ask so many questions?’ he asked.