A teen girl tried to steal a book from our store

smiles faintly.

“Hi,” she says, as if nothing about this is strange.

“You—how—” I struggle to find words, my mind racing. “They said you…”

“I know what they said,” she interrupts gently.

“You’re not…” I hesitate, unable to say the word.

She tilts her head slightly. “Does it matter?”

I stare at her, at the way she stands there so naturally, so real.

“I don’t continue reading …