I replay his words, searching for clues. There’s a clatter in the background—maybe a train station? Or was it just the dishwasher running here, echoing through the phone’s speaker? He ends the message with, “Don’t call back. I mean it, Mom.” But I want to scream—how can I not?

All day I pace, phone in my pocket, thumb hovering over Daniel’s contact. If I call, will he answer? If I tell Avery, will I betray him? There’s one thing they both don’t know: last week, Daniel asked me for money—said it was for rent. But now I wonder what it was really for.