I understood his fear.
If I had been in his position, I might have been just as frightened.
But I also knew that Lily wanted to be more than a patient.
She wanted to laugh, make mistakes, learn things, and spend time with her friends without every conversation returning to her illness.
I thought the wig might give her a little confidence.
I thought Ethan’s kindness had done something wonderful.
I believed that was the end of the story.
I was wrong.
The following morning, my phone rang while I was preparing breakfast.
“Hello?”
“Is this Meryl, Ethan’s mother?”
“Yes.”
“This is Mr. Harrison from Ethan’s school. I need you to come in as soon as possible.”
My stomach tightened.
“Is Ethan all right?”
“He’s safe.”
Those words never make a parent feel better.
“What happened?”
“There’s been a situation involving Ethan and Lily. Her father is here, and he wants to speak with you.”
