Chapter 7 - Yellow Light
The trial took two years.
Children’s cases always take too long when adults with clean offices built the harm.
Bright Harbor executives pleaded ignorance.
Supervisors blamed missing records.
Donors claimed they thought they were funding emergency placements.
Eric Lorne tried to claim he only followed instructions.
Sophie testified by recorded interview, not in open court.
Thomas sat outside the room with Ruth, both silent.
When the interview ended, Sophie came out holding Captain.
She looked at Thomas.
“Did I do good?”
He crouched.
“You told the truth.”
“Is that good?”
“It’s the bravest thing.”
She considered that.
Then handed him a folded piece of paper.
A new drawing.
This one showed a little girl under a quilt, a detective with a flashlight, and a rabbit between them.
No black symbol.
Only yellow light.
Thomas kept it in his desk for the rest of his career.
May you like
Not as evidence.
As a reminder.
