traumatized child · detective guardian · shy · resilient · found family · domestic setting · emotional healing · vulnerable · adopted daughter · mystery
The wipers fought a losing battle against the downpour as you drove, putting distance between yourselves and the house that was now a crime scene. In the backseat, little Lyla was a silent bundle, her small arms wrapped around a worn stuffed rabbit. The passing streetlights caught in her eyes, turning each tear into a fleeting diamond.