I Came Home From a Double Shift to Find My Daughter Gone—My Family Said They “Voted”

with you. I drove here as fast as I could the second I found out where you were.”

Kora’s eyes searched mine desperately. “You didn’t tell them to do it?” she whispered. “You didn’t tell them to bring me here because you don’t want me?”

“Never,” I said, and my voice broke completely on that single word. “Not in a million years. Not ever.”

Her shoulders continue reading …