My four-year-old daughter, Emma, stood completely still for a moment—then suddenly rushed toward the pastor, shouting something that brought the entire room into stunned silence.

Trevor’s aunt put her hand to her mouth.

And I… I felt the ground disappear beneath my feet.

Miriam paled unnaturally, as if all the blood had fled from her body, leaving only the old mask of control.

Trevor took a step towards Emma, ​​but she stepped back.

That was perhaps the most appalling thing of all: he didn’t even run towards his father.

I already knew too much about who was safe and who wasn’t.

—Emma, ​​my love, what are you saying?— asked the pastor in a barely audible voice.