Chapter 13 - THE GIRL WHO LEARNED TO SLEEP
Maisie was ten when she finally stopped checking the locks every night.
It didn't happen all at once.
There were nightmares.
Bad days.
Sudden fears.
But there was also school.
Friends.
Birthday parties.
A bicycle.
A dog named Biscuit.
Hannah worked with trauma specialists to help Maisie process what she'd survived.
Lauren supported them without trying to replace Hannah.
One evening, Maisie sat on the porch beside Lauren.
The sky was turning pink.
“Do you think Daddy knows I kept his gloves?”
Lauren looked at her.
“I think he'd be proud you remembered him.”
Maisie smiled faintly.
She held the yellow gloves in her lap.
The rubber was cracked now.
The fingers stiff.
“I don't need them every day anymore.”
Lauren nodded.
“That's okay.”
Maisie looked up.
“Can I keep them anyway?”
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“Maybe I'll show Benji when he's older.”
Lauren nodded.
“Tell him the story.”
Maisie considered that.
Then said:
“Not the scary parts.”
Lauren smiled.
“You can tell him whatever feels right.”
Maisie leaned against her.
Inside, Hannah was making dinner.
Benji was laughing.
Biscuit was barking at a squirrel.
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The world had become noisy again.
But this time, the noise meant life.
