“Tess.”
“I’m tired, Mom.”
“Look at me.”
“I’m fine.”
Then I saw them.
Tiny brown hairs were scattered across the shoulder of her sweatshirt.
My stomach tightened.
“Tessa.”
She went completely still.
“Take the hoodat me.
That was when I knew something was wrong.
Tessa was a terrible liar.
Not because she couldn’t invent a story, but because she always stopped looking at me when she did.
I followed her upstairs.
She was sitting on the edge of her bed when I entered, her knees pulled against her chest.
“Tess.”
“I’m tired, Mom.”
“Look at me.”
“I’m fine.”
Then I saw them.
Tiny brown hairs were scattered across the shoulder of her sweatshirt.
My stomach tightened.
“Tessa.”
She went completely still.
“Take the hooddown.”
Her eyes filled immediately.
“Mom, please.”
I walked closer.
“Whatever happened, you’re not in trouble.”
“You’ll be mad.”
