A small figure was running down the sidewalk—stumbling, panicked, frantic. She wore a thin summer dress despite the cold. No coat. No shoes.

I slowed the car, heart pounding.

The girl tripped, scrambled to her feet, and kept running—screaming at a car that was speeding away.

I rolled down the window. “Sophie?”

She spun around. Her face was streaked with dirt and tears, pure terror etched into every line.

“Daddy!” she cried, her voice breaking as she ran toward me. “Daddy, she left him! She left Nathan!”

I slammed the car into park and jumped out. Sophie collapsed against me, shaking violently, clutching my jacket like it was the only thing keeping her standing.