The little girl hadn’t spoken since the night her mother was found on the kitchen floor! Then the court dog lowered his head-and she whispered one sentence toward the defense table…

waiting. Adults were bad at silence; they wanted to fix it, fill it, interpret it, win it. Dr. Marcus Bell, Lily’s trauma therapist, had warned Ava that silence might be the only bridge Lily trusted. Ava kept her mouth shut and let the child decide whether to cross.

Lily bent until her cheek rested on Boone’s head.

“He knows,” she said.

Ava kept her voice continue reading …