The Knock Came Before I Could Dial 911

up too much space.

“Hi, Clara,” I said softly. “I’m Emily.”

She didn’t answer.

I placed the colored pencils on the table.

“They told me you like purple.”

Her fingers slipped a little out of her sleeves, just enough to choose a pencil. She drew a house, a door, and thick black lines across the door.

“Is that rain?” I asked.

She shook her head.

“Bars.”

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