For several seconds, silence settled between us.

Then he asked, “Brandon likes baseball?”

I stared at him.

“How do you know that?”

“You mentioned buying him a glove yesterday.”
Mrs. Alvarez looked upstairs.

“I don’t know.”Follow Stars

I went home.

The first thing I did was take Brandon to an urgent care clinic.

He had pneumonia.

Not severe enough for hospitalization, but close.

The doctor prescribed antibiotics and told me he needed warmth, rest, fluids, and food.

I paid without checking the price.

That alone nearly made me cry.Prep for Tests

A padded bathing chair.

The kind of equipment that cost more than my apartment building.

When Mrs. Alvarez finally left us alone, silence filled the room.

Mr. Bennett watched me organize towels.

“You’ve never done this before.”

“No.”

“You’re nervous.”Learn a Language

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“Please.”

That word stopped me.

Christopher Bennett did not say please.

I closed

the door.

He turned toward the desk.Bath & Body Products

“Bottom drawer.”

“What?”

“Open it.”

I moved around the desk.

The drawer was locked.

He gave me the key from around his wrist.

Inside was a black folder.Celebrities & Entertainment News

My hands shook as I opened it.

The first page contained a photograph.

Ryan.

Alive.

Older.