22

Piper drove to the Children’s Justice Center and found Sophie standing outside waiting for her. She wore a summer dress with Converse sneakers. She still didn’t smile or look people in the eyes, but at least she was able to come outside without Piper having to go in and get her.

The girl got into the car and put on her seat belt.

“I love your dress.”

“Thanks. Carol got it for me.”

Piper pulled out of the parking spot and merged onto the surface road. She made a turn past a Greek restaurant and used a gas station to change direction on the street.

“Where we going?” Sophie asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

They drove in silence for a few minutes before Piper started asking simple questions to establish a rhythm. Eventually, she asked about school. Sophie discussed how differently everyone treated her and how all she wanted was for people to forget, but it was all they talked about with her.

“They don’t know how to act,” Piper said.

“I know,” she said with her eyes out the window.

“You don’t have to see anyone you don’t want to. No one can tell you how to start healing, Sophie.”

The girl remained quiet, observing the passing business landscape and greasy diners as they exited the freeway. The humane society was located up a narrow road, surrounded by industrial spaces. The building had a modern design with a front entirely made of glass. A woman with purple hair came out to greet them.

“Hey, cutie,” she said as she gave Piper a hug.

“Thank you so much for getting us in, Holly.”

“Anytime. And who’s this?”

“This is Sophie.”

“That is a beautiful name, Sophie. You ready to have some fun?”

She glanced to Piper with a shy, curious grin. “What is this?”

“Follow her and find out.”

They went inside to a private room. Three lively puppies were in there, tails wagging. One jumped up on Sophie, paws on her shin. She had a smile but was hesitant to touch him. Holly picked one up and gently put him into Sophie’s arms.

“This is Bruiser. He’s a rottweiler mix and came to us from the streets actually. He’s a rescue.”

Sophie got a shocked look on her face. “Someone lost him?”

“We don’t know, he didn’t have any tags and he was starving, but look how healthy he is now.”

Sophie looked down to the dog and rubbed his head.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Holly said with a quick squeeze of Piper’s arm as she left.

Piper stood against the wall, watching Sophie happily playing with the puppies on the floor. It was the first time Piper had seen her smile.

Sophie held Bruiser in her arms while the other two dogs, which appeared to be Labs, played and tumbled around. Then, they spotted a chew toy in the corner and dashed toward it. One of them managed to sink its teeth into it, and the other one bumped into the first, emitting a playful bark, trying to assert dominance, which made Sophie giggle.

Her laughter was soft and sweet but evoked sadness in Piper.

Sophie gently rubbed Bruiser’s head and whispered, “You’re alone just like me, aren’t you?”

Suddenly, the young teen lowered her head over the puppy, clutching it tightly. She closed her eyes in an attempt to hold back tears, but the sobs overtook her, and she couldn’t stop them.

As Sophie wept, Piper joined her on the floor and wrapped one arm around the girl, and they sat with Sophie crying and the puppies wrestling.