"Do you ever think about running away?" Emma asked suddenly, her voice so small I almost did not hear it.
My heart jumped in my chest. For a moment, I could not breathe. Why would she ask that? Moreover, what made her think I wanted to run away.
Did she already notice Josh's behavior? My lips parted, but I forced myself to stay calm as I swallowed down the shock that threatened to show on my face.
I stroked her hair gently, trying to keep my voice soft. "Why would you ask such a question, dear?"
Emma's little shoulders stiffened against me, and for a while she remained silent. Her fingers played nervously with the hem of my shirt, twisting it until the fabric stretched.
After a while, she finally whispered out, "Because… sometimes I feel like running away too."
Her confession made my blood run cold. My mind spun with wild imaginings of Josh doing something to her, making my blood boil, but it swiftly settled down.
