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“Put that away!”

He stands over me. I didn’t hear him coming because he is so quiet when he moves. He says it’s from so much time avoiding the bad people.

“I’m coloring,” I say. He slept all night and all morning and didn’t give me any food and I’m so bored and sad.

I’m using my blue crayon now. The one called Robin Egg Blue.

He yanks the book out of my hands, tearing the cover. I jump up. “Stop!” Tears sting my eyes and my face.

He looks all around us and then his voice gets soft, like he’s trying to be nice. “I’m sorry, but you know that you can’t be seen with this stuff.”

“Tell me what you did, and I’ll put it away.” I’m trying hard not to be afraid of him but there are two dried reddish drops on his left boot and I’m worried.

“I told you,” he says. “I did what was necessary to protect us. You’re too young to know the details.”

Who did you hurt? Who did you hurt? Who did you hurt?

I want to ask but the drops on his boot must be blood and I want to know whose blood but if he tells me, I might die, too.

He gives me the book and I hide it inside my bag with my crayons. Tears roll down my cheeks. I can’t stop them. I think it’s because I know who he hurt and I wish I didn’t.