“Who’s with you?” I interrupted my own thoughts.
“No one.”
The silence that followed felt heavier than anything I had ever experienced.
“You mean… you’re alone in the house?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since yesterday afternoon.”
My chest tightened.
“Have they called you? Checked on you?”
She hesitated. “Mom texted me last night. She said there’s food in the fridge.”
That was it.
Food in the fridge.
No adult supervision. No plan. No explanation.
Just… food.
Anger Like I’ve Never Felt Before
I wish I could say I stayed calm.
I didn’t.
My hands started shaking, and I had to put my coffee down before I dropped it.
“Listen to me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Are the doors locked?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have your phone charged?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I need you to stay inside. Don’t open the door for anyone, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’m coming.”
She didn’t respond right away.
Then she said something that broke me.
