I Sent My 15-Year-Old Autistic Brother to the Grocery Store Alone for the First Time. Fifteen Minutes Later, a Cashier Came Out Crying and Told Me, “You Need to Come Inside. You Won’t Believe What Your Brother Has Done.”

At the door, he turned around.

“Marcus?”

“Yes?”

“Are you proud of me?”

I felt my throat tighten.

“I already am.”

He smiled and walked away.

I stood at the window watching him until he disappeared around the corner.

Then I returned to the kitchen and tried to focus on the bills.

I lasted approximately three minutes.

I checked the clock.

Then I checked my phone.

Then I went to the window again.

I told myself to stop being ridiculous. The store was close. Theo knew the route. He had done everything correctly during our practice trips.

Still, when fifteen minutes passed and he hadn’t returned, I began pacing.

At seventeen minutes, I picked up my phone to call him.

At eighteen minutes, it rang.

A woman’s voice answered.

“Hello? Is this Marcus?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

“My name is Denise. I work at the grocery store. Your brother is here, and I need you to come as soon as you can.”