The school bell rang at Oakwood Elementary. I counted the students: nineteen… twenty… twenty-one. Lily Parker was missing—again.
Her excuses didn’t add up, and my gut told me something was wrong. She rarely ate, her dark circles deepening each day.
A flash of purple backpack led me to the woods, where a makeshift shelter hid a man and a sick little boy. Lily had been bringing her lunches there every day.
“I’m Rebecca Collins, Lily’s teacher,” I said. Daniel Parker looked exhausted. “We lost our home. My wife died. I’m trying…”
Noah needed help immediately. I called 911 and promised Lily, “I’ll do everything I can to keep your family together.”
Six months later, Daniel had a new home, a steady job, and the children were thriving. Lily smiled, “It already feels like home… because we’re all here together.”
I held Daniel’s hand and stepped inside. “Yes,” I said. “I’m coming home.”
