There was a pause. “Not since Monday,” she said quietly. My stomach dropped completely.
That evening, Sienna came home acting exactly like herself. Complained about an assignment.
Asked what was for dinner. Rolled her eyes right on cue. The next morning, I said absolutely nothing.
I just waited. I let her leave the house like always, then got in my own car and drove ahead along her route, parking far enough back to watch unnoticed.
She got on the bus exactly the way she always did. The second it pulled away, I followed.
Near the school, she stepped off with the rest of the kids. But she never went through the doors.
