I wanted to take control because the alternative was admitting how helpless I felt.

He closed his notebook.

“You can be her father while we do our jobs.

That will help her more than trying to be the entire justice system.”

When he left, I stood beside a window and watched a truck spread salt across the hospital parking lot.

Ordinary people were getting ready for ordinary mornings.

Somewhere a father would complain about being late for school drop-off.

Somewhere a mother would remind a child to put on a coat.