“I came here ready to apologize for everything,” I admitted.

“And you can,” she said.

“Just don’t make the children carry all our feelings.”

I drove home thinking about that.

Noah had wanted to help a friend.

The adults now had work to do, but it would have to be done without turning Autumn into a symbol instead of a person.

PART 5

The following Monday, Owen took a personal day so we could meet with the principal, Ms.