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

Veronica’s jaw tightened. “You don’t get to erase me.”

“You erased yourself.”

Madison began crying when the principal informed her parents the school would open a formal investigation and law enforcement might be involved due to the image threats. The tears did not move Thomas. He had already spent too many years being moved by the wrong person crying.

Lucia transferred schools the following week.

Not because she had done anything wrong.