Chapter 9
We formed a worker safety council.
Not for show.
Real authority.
Real access.
Real power to shut down lines.
The board hated it.
Victor’s allies hated it more.
One director, Paul Sloane, resigned loudly.
Then investigators found emails between him and Victor.
He was arrested quietly.
My world kept shrinking.
Not my money.
My illusions.
Anna improved slowly.
Elijah started school with a backpack I did not buy until he agreed.
He chose the cheapest one.
I bought it.
Then I donated the rest of the school supply money to his classroom because I was learning not every gesture needed my name on it.
One evening, I found Elijah in my kitchen making toast.
He froze when I entered.
“You don’t have to ask,” I said.
He looked at the bread.
“At shelters, you ask.”
“This is not a shelter.”
“It’s not my house.”
I swallowed.
“It can be, if you want.”
He stared at me.
“Mom said this used to be her house.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she leave?”
“Because I made her choose between love and comfort.”
“What did she pick?”
“Love.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
Then he handed me a piece of toast.
May you like
It was burnt.
I ate every bite.
