Morning sun peeked through the blinds, creating golden stripes across my bedroom wall. Cam was with me, her breath slow and even, her little hand still clutched around my wrist from the night before. She'd refused to sleep in her own bed and hadn't let go, not once, since we'd held ourselves asleep. I brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, kissed her temple, and whispered, "Time to get ready, baby girl."
Waking her up was gentler than normal. She did not struggle like she always did on school mornings. Her silence was heavy but cooperative. While I got her dressed and made her lunch, I made a silent vow to myself- today, I would not just drop her off. I would walk into that school, head held high, and let it be known that my daughter was not alone.
We arrived at the school gates, an
