“What happened, Sir? Is… is everything alright?”

“I need you to come in.” A pause. “I’d rather not explain over the phone, Edward. You need to see this yourself.”

I was already grabbing my jacket. “I’m on my way, Sir.”

I don’t remember the drive. Just pulling into the school parking lot.

The front office staff saw me and immediately stood. They’d been expecting me. I followed one of them down the hallway. She walked quickly, slightly ahead, avoiding eye contact.

The corridor had that heavy stillness schools get when something has happened and everyone knows it but no one is saying it yet.

She slowed near a recessed corner and glanced toward the wall.

There was a trash can.

And sticking out of it, in pieces, was Robin’s jacket.

It wasn’t just torn anymore. It had been cut cleanly across the front. The patches we added hung loose. The collar had been completely separated.

I stood there, silent, staring.

“Where’s my sister?” I finally asked.

I heard her before I saw her.

Robin stood a few feet away, a teacher gently holding her shoulders. She was crying, repeating that she wanted to go home.