I nearly dialed 911 on the tattooed teenager holding a screaming baby inside an empty 1 AM laundromat. Then his bag tore open, and my stomach sank with utter shame.

do I do?”

“You make a plan that protects Emma better than revenge ever could.”

He looked toward his daughter.

Her block tower collapsed.

She laughed anyway.

That was Emma.

Always laughing at ruins.

The first supervised visit happened at the family services office downtown.

A plain beige room.

A round table.

A box of washable crayons.

Two plastic chairs that squeaked continue reading …