When Lily woke up from surgery, Maria was beside her.
“Are you an angel?” Lily asked.
“No, honey. I’m Maria. I heard you were very brave tonight.”
“I ran away,” Lily whispered. Like a confession.
“You saved yourself,” Maria said. “That’s the bravest thing anyone can do.”
The mother’s death was reclassified as homicide. The father was charged with murder, attempted murder, torture, and abuse. He’ll die in prison.
Family services started looking for placement. Foster homes. Relatives.
“We’ll take her,” Maria said.
“We’re fifty,” I said. “Our kids are grown.”
“That baby chose you on that highway, Ray. You think that was random?”
