“I Thought They…

Minutes after they left, the school called.

Avery had missed several days.

Days I had watched her walk out the door.

That was it.

I grabbed my keys and followed them.

They didn’t go to any store.

They went to a hospital.

I stayed back, watching them from a distance as they bought flowers and walked inside like they had done it before.

I followed.

They went up to the third floor and disappeared into a room.

I waited.

When they came out, Avery was crying.

Ryan had his hand on her shoulder, steady, like he knew exactly how to hold her together.

I tried to go in.

A nurse stopped me.

“Immediate family only.”

The words stayed with me longer than they should have.

The next day, they went again.

This time, I didn’t wait outside.

I walked in.