The police found tiny footprints in the snow leading to tire tracks, but the trail went cold at the highway. He set the frame down carefully. I hired private investigators, offered rewards, searched every lead, every possibility. For 25 years, I never stopped looking. “No,” Rochelle whispered, then louder. “No, you’re lying,” she shot to her feet, causing Nia to jump.
“If you looked so hard, why didn’t you find me? Where were you when I was bouncing between foster homes? Where were you when I was 16 and scared and pregnant with no one to turn to? Her voice rose with each question. Years of buried pain erupting like a volcano. Where were you when I had to drop out of school to work two jobs? When I was trying to figure out how to be a mother with no example to follow.
Where were you then? Elias didn’t try to defend himself. He stood there accepting each accusation like a physical blow. I failed you. he said simply. Every day I failed you. Nia watched the scene unfold with wide eyes, her young mind piecing together the puzzle of her morning visits. That’s why you always looked at me so strange, she said softly.
