Just the exhausted kind that come when a frightening day finally ends and there is nothing left to hold together.

We stayed at the table until the toast in the toaster had gone cold.

I could not fix the ramp that night.

I could not undo the hurt Autumn had endured.

I could, however, help my son understand something more difficult than being brave in one moment: caring about someone means remaining involved long after the excitement has passed.

PART 4

Autumn’s mother, Elena Miller, called me on Wednesday after school.