“I took the city bus to the public library and rode my bike the rest of the way here.”

Her chest was heaving from the long ride.

“Does your mother know you’re here?

Did Rebecca send you with a message?”

“Rebecca’s packing the kitchen boxes,” Lily said.

“She doesn’t know I left school.”

Lily unzipped the main compartment of her canvas backpack.

She reached past her school binders, deep inside, and pulled out a large manila envelope.