PART 1

Liam had been asking me for weeks.

“Mom, it’s ten minutes.

I’m eleven.

I can walk home by myself.”

Normally, I picked him up every afternoon, but he wasn’t wrong.

His school was close, the route was familiar, and we’d walked it together dozens of times.

So that Friday, I finally agreed.

Before he left that morning, I made him repeat the rules.

“Straight home.

No shortcuts.

No stopping anywhere.”

Liam sighed.

“I know.”

“And text me when you leave school.”

“Yes, Mom.”

At 3:11, my phone buzzed.

Liam: On my way.