The Quiet Emergency: When Adults Look Away and Kids Learn to Disappear

what to say.

Not “Be strong.”

Not “Ignore them.”

Not “Make friends.”

Just:

I see you. I’m proud of you. You don’t have to be perfect to be loved.

I folded it and put it in her lunch bag like it was armor.

That afternoon, she got in the car and shut the door carefully, like she was afraid a loud sound might break something.

“How was it?” I asked, trying to continue reading …