"Take that down. I look haunted."
"You always look haunted."
"You always give yours away."
"That's worse."
They laughed.
Every visit told me the same thing.
These kids knew my daughter.
They knew when she was tired, knew she hated raisins, and knew which teacher she mimicked when bored.
And Claire knew them.
Every visit told me the same thing.
***
One afternoon, I stepped into the hallway for coffee and heard two students near the elevators.
"You told her?"
"No."
"She told me I was the only one."
Rocky's voice answered.
"She told all of us that."
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"You told her?"
The girl whispered, "Claire promised. But can we trust her?"
"We promised too."
They walked away.
***
That evening, after the last visitor left, Claire barely touched her dinner. I couldn't keep pretending I wasn't worried.
I pulled my chair closer.
"We promised too."
"Claire, I need you to tell me what's going on with those kids."
Her eyes lifted to mine.
"Mom."
"Mrs. Evans told me some of them were meeting you during lunch."
"You called her?"
"Yes."
"I need you to tell me what's going on with those kids."
Claire's jaw tightened.
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