My daughter begged to spend summer with her dad and stepmom in Florida. I packed sunscreen, snacks, a new swimsuit—then kissed her goodbye. Three days later, I got a call from her school.
Confused, I said she was out of state. The secretary paused, then said, “She’s sitting right here and won’t explain where she’s been…”
I nearly dropped the phone. My heart pounded as I asked to speak to her. When I heard her voice, she just whispered, “Can you come get me?”
No tears. No panic. Just flat. Empty. I left work without locking my office door. The twenty-minute drive felt like hours.
At school, she stood with her backpack on and hoodie up. In July. In Florida. I hugged her tight. “Sweetheart, what’s going on?” I asked. She only said, “Can we just go home?”
