Page 102 of Until Nalia

“Zuri.”

“I’m okay, Namalama.”

“Who pushed you?”

“I… I don’t know.” I don’t know why, but something about the way she hesitated tells me that she's lying.

“Zuri, did someone push you on purpose?”

“Can I go back to class?” she asks instead of answering my question, which does nothing to lessen the worry I’m already feeling.

“Let me talk to the nurse.”

“Miss Mayson.”

“Hey, I’m going to come pick her up and take her to the doctor just to make sure that she’s okay.”

“I’ve checked her ov…”

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” I cut her off.

“Of course,” she says, and I say goodbye before hanging up.

“Is everything alright?” Mrs. Birney asks when I walk back into the bedroom.

“I’m sorry, no, I need to get over to the school.”

“That’s okay.” Dr. Birney tells me. “I think we were just about done anyway, and I’m sure that with the help of your notes, we can figure everything else out when we move in.”

“Thank you.” I let out a sigh of relief; some clients would not be as nice or as understanding as they are. After we all gather our things from the kitchen, they follow me outside, and I lock up the house, keeping the key to give to the closing officer along with the iPad. The closing is officially happening tomorrow, so that’s when everything will be handed over to them. “Monday, when you’re all moved in, I’ll come over and check on you guys and help with anything that you haven’t been able to figure out.”

“Thank you, Nalia, and I hope your daughter is okay.”

“Thanks,” I call over my shoulder as I jog to my Bronco.

As I’m backing out of the driveway, I hit call on Logan’s number.

“Hey, baby, how did…”

“I’m on my way to pick up Zuri.” I cut him off then explain about the call from the school and that I’m worried about her because she sounded off.

“I’ll call the principal to see if she can check the video footage from the playground to see exactly what happened,” he tells me, rather than making me feel like I’m overreacting.

“Thank you.”

“Let me know when you got her.”

“I will.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too.” While I’m hanging up with him my phone starts to ring again. I half expect it to be the school but instead it’s a call from Colorado.

I don’t want to answer, but guilt and fear has me accepting the call.

“Hello, this is a call from…” An animated voice comes on, then it goes to Sharon’s voice. “Sharon Herbert, an inmate from Colorado correctional facility, would you like to accept?”

“Yes.” I hold my breath while my stomach twists. It’s been a few weeks since my attorney began gathering everything that she would need to terminate Sharon’s parental and visitation rights, and I totally forgot that she would be sending the information to Sharon this week, until this moment.