stopped. But the world outside still felt stra

with a warm smile and a soft pin

the hospital had provided. It was filled with things she di

l no

p

fam

boy named Eli who had vanished after their t

inting soaked in water. Trees bent under the weight of the storm's af

dy on the wheel. "Nice people. They've taken in kids before. You'll have a r

Do they know I don't

they're fi

one dangerous is

a calm smile. "That's not something yo

her hands tightened on the stee

ailbox that read Thatcher. It sat on a quiet stretch of Broo

nd a flannel shirt waved from

ly. "I'm Joanne. Come on i

living room was cluttered but warm-blankets thrown over couches,

m," Joanne said, pushi

er. A desk with a lamp. A window that looked

de, taking it in. Eve

perf

, she coul

h. The woods outside whispered through

ched under her pillo

. You weren't sup

gers tr

oft knock cam

fr

b turne

allway light. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare

and handed over

he hospital," she said. "We

oked down a

the edges. It showed two little girls, maybe

m... looke

Same dimple on the lef

nding next to her that

had seen tha

n a m

ospital

to Dr.

jet-black hair and a

who she is?"

idea, sorry. Maybe

g not to care. But in

ed the journal from her drawer. She ope

y

left me

esn't want me t

girl from the phot

ey know th

n the corner of the page, jus

l of so

didn't

e lamp, thunder rumb

es behind the house

chi

it

dn't s

he fe

e waking up, she whispe

name

pa

l no

hoto-her friend? her

row, she'