He ran toward the sidewalk.

Isabelle followed with his lunch bag.

I locked the front door.

And for the first time in weeks, the day ahead felt like an ordinary school day rather than another question waiting to be answered.

EPILOGUE — THE THING THAT STAYED ON THE SHELF

Months later, the blue Lego spaceship was still on Toby’s shelf.

He had built other things.

A small truck.

A castle with mismatched pieces.