Chapter 1

Gracie

The hum of fluorescent light in my office at Northwood Elementary was usually pretty constant, like the low buzz of a fridge you barely noticed until it stopped. Today, though, it felt louder, pushing against the quiet that always settled in after the kids left. Sun was slanting through the blinds, painting these dusty stripes across the carpet where I sat. Just another Tuesday wrapping up, another pile of files waiting, another kid's mess of a world trying to untangle itself.

Leo was here in here earlier. Ten years old, but his eyes told a story twice that long. You know, that look some kids get when they’ve seen too much? He was clutching this crumpled drawing, a house with smoke pouring out the windows. Not chimney smoke. This was the dark, angry kind, like something was burning inside. He mumbled about his stepdad, his voice barely a whisper, with a little shake in it. He looked tiny in the big chair, like a bird about to fly off if you looked at it wrong. I just listened, nodded, kept my face soft. Said the usual stuff, the soothing words, the promise of safety. It's my job. It’s what they need to hear.

"It's okay, Leo," I remember saying, keeping my voice low and calm. "You're safe here. We're gonna make sure you stay safe."

He looked up, and for a second, there was this tiny spark, like maybe he actually believed me. Hope. It's a fragile thing, right? Easy to stomp out. I know that better than anyone. After he left, clutching a new drawing of some superhero, I just leaned back. The hum felt normal again. But the stuff he said, the small, casual cruelties he mentioned, the way some grown-ups just throw their weight around like it’s nothing—that stuff just stuck with you. It was the same old song, played out on different stages, different faces. Kids, women, anyone who couldn't fight back.

My job here, helping these kids, it feels right. Like I’m actually doing some good, giving them a place to land. It’s a good feeling.

Later that day, as I drove across town, the air was still thick with that summer humidity that just won’t quit. City lights smeared into blurry lines. The Women's Hope Shelter showed up, its windows glowing soft and yellow. It’s a quiet street, tucked away, a place where people come when they have got nowhere else to go. Here, the stories are different in the details, but the fear’s always the same. Women, some with little ones glued to their legs, running from the same kind of men Leo was talking about.

My shift tonight was intake. The first one in was Sarah. Her face was messed up, bad bruises, eyes puffed up from crying. She whispered about her husband. Said he’d “lost his temper” again. This guy was supposed to be a big shot, a respected real estate man, shook hands with everyone, gave money to charities. But behind closed doors? He was a monster. The way she told it, it was the usual stuff: controlling every move, cutting her off from friends, then the sudden blow-ups. I just sat there, taking notes, gave her a warm cup of tea, walked her through the papers. My hand was steady, my voice calm, just like always.

"He said he'd find me," she whimpered, tears streaming down her face. "Said he'd make me pay."

I looked right at her, putting all the warmth I had into my eyes. "He won't find you here, Sarah. You're safe. We'll help you. We'll make sure he can't hurt you or your kids ever again."

I meant it. For her, the shelter was a start. A safe spot, at least for now. For guys like her husband, well, they had a different kind of ending coming. The thought felt… clean. Like washing away something dirty.

Then Maria came in. Her story made Sarah’s sound almost tame. Her ex-partner, A guy she met online, had been secretly filming her, sharing the videos. Threatened to post more if she didn’t do what he wanted. She’d gone to the cops, she said, and they told her it was a "civil matter," like they couldn’t do anything without more proof. Her desperation was raw, like an open wound. You could just feel it. It hit differently. Another name, another man who thought he was untouchable.

When my shift was over, the air had finally cooled down a little. Walking to my car, the city sounds seemed far away, muffled. The world felt… clearer. Leo, Sarah, Maria – their faces floated in my head, mixed with the faces of the men who’d done them wrong. It was a gallery, a collection of brokenness. Northwood was a city of good but also evil and I knew that evil more than anyone else.

I thought about David. He’d be home by now, probably still hunched over some case file, ordering takeout because he forgot to eat. He’s a good man, David. Dedicated. Believes in the law, in doing things by the book. I used to be like that, a long time ago. Before the world showed me how messy things really were. He’s kind, Always listening. We met in the most natural way a school counselor and a detective could ever meet.

I first bumped into David at one of the schools many "awareness day" they used to have, a total scene with kids running everywhere and booths set up. I was over at my charity's table, A n organization to helping out kids, trying to explain what we did to anyone who'd listen. David was a detective back then, still kind of new to the job, chilling at the police booth talking about staying safe in the neighborhood. Honestly, I didn't even notice him much at first, just another guy in uniform. But then, during a quiet minute, our eyes just kind of locked across the room. It was like the whole noisy place faded out for a second.

We ended up chatting when things slowed down. Just small talk at first, about the event and stuff, but it got easy real fast, like we just got each other. He was super genuine, and you could tell he really cared about his work, not just punching in to be there because he had to but, because he wanted to be there. And he actually listened when I talked, which was rare. I, on the other hand, was totally drawn to how steady and strong he seemed, but also really kind. There was just this undeniable spark between us, like we were on the same wavelength. So, when the day was winding down, and everyone was packing up their stuff, we swapped numbers. Simple as that. Never thought that little piece of paper would lead to... everything.

We dated for a while almost a year before we moved in together, my apartment had suddenly felt like home after he came and that’s where we were now. We didn’t want marriage, and both agreed that we were happy that way and that’s the way we have been ever since.