At school, Piper’s teacher, Mrs.

Ellison, arranged a quiet return.

She gave Piper a choice of seats and a place to go if she felt overwhelmed.

Classmates were told only that Piper had been ill and was getting better.

They were not given the frightening details of her experience.

Her first morning back, Piper clung to my hand near the classroom door.

“Will you be here at three?”

“I’ll be outside before the bell,” I promised.