A big house with a red door, a room full of toys, a father who read her stories every night. A father whose face she now saw clearly in the man standing before her. The world spun. Security guards moved quickly as Rochelle’s legs gave way. She heard Nia’s frightened cry, felt strong hands catching her, saw Elias rushing forward.
The last thing she remembered was his face, her father’s face hovering over her, saying words she couldn’t hear as the morning light grew dim and the world faded to black. The crowd surged forward, reporters shouting questions, neighbors calling out in concern. Through it all, Nia stood frozen, watching as medical personnel emerged from one of the vans, rushing to her mother’s side.
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and looked up to find Elas, her grandfather, looking down at her with tears in his eyes. The quiet street would never be the same. In the space of a morning, their simple life had shattered like glass, leaving them standing amid the glittering pieces of a truth too big to comprehend.
