The Girl Who Spoke With Her Hands — The Secret of Ashcroft House

I AM TIRED OF BEING A SECRET.

There was no brave speech to make.

We could not promise she would never feel afraid again, or that everyone would understand her story.

We could promise that her privacy belonged to her and that she would not have to carry the adults’ investigation.

“Your life isn’t a secret,” I said.

“But you get to choose what belongs to other people.”

She nodded and asked whether we could go home.