Marcus never made anybody feel small. Maya swallowed. That sounds like him. Walter's voice softened. He saved me once.
Mia looked up. Walter glanced toward the window. Warehouse closed with almost no warning. I was 52, thought I'd retire from there. Instead, I had no job and a knee already going bad.
He gave a humorless laugh. I spent 3 weeks telling everybody I was fine. Maya almost smiled. That seems to be a neighborhood tradition. Walter nodded.
Marcus knew I was lying. What did he do? Found me two interviews. Drove me to both because my car had been repossessed. Never told anybody.
Maya's eyes lowered. She had spent the last week trying to spare Denise from worry, trying to carry humiliation quietly, trying to convince herself that asking for help meant Tyler had won something. Now she heard the shape of her own mistake inside Walter's story. Why didn't dad tell me any of this? Ruth answered.
Because it wasn't about him. Maya looked at the silver heron. Walter reached into his wallet and pulled out a small faded photograph. The edges were worn nearly white. He placed it on the table.
Marcus stood in front of an old brick storefront beneath a handpainted sign. Heron House. Several adults stood beside him. One of them was Walter, much younger. Another was Ruth.
Maya stared. Her father looked healthy, strong, alive. On the door behind them was the same silver bird. Maya's throat tightened. I've never seen this.
Walter slid the photograph toward her. You should have it. Maya shook her head. No, it's yours. You need it more than I do.
She looked at him. Walter tapped the patch on her bag. You know what that bird means? Maya looked down. No. His eyes held hers.
It means somebody believed you were worth helping before the world decided whether you were worth noticing. The words landed quietly. Maya blinked. Walter's voice became firmer. So, if you're going to carry that bird, carry it straight.
Maya's fingers closed around the edge of the table. For the first time in days, she nearly told someone what was happening at Riverton. Nearly. Then her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen.
Three new campus notifications. One from Lena. You okay? One anonymous. Still pretending you belong here and one from an unknown number.
Keep talking and see what happens. Maya locked the screen. Walter saw her face change. What is it? Nothing.