HIS NEIGHBOR WOULDN’T STOP REPORTING THE SOUND OF A GIRL CRYING INSIDE HIS HOUSE—THEN HE HID BENEATH HIS DAUGHTER’S BED AND HEARD HER PLEAD FOR SOMEONE TO SPARE HER

Lucia looked down at her plate.

Thomas continued, “But a house is not safe just because the rent is paid. A child is not okay just because she says ‘fine.’ And a father who is too tired to notice pain becomes useful to the people causing it.”

His voice broke.

“I will spend the rest of my life being sorry for what I missed. But I will also spend the rest of my life listening the first time.”