I smiled throughout the day, noticing some of the small things I’d taken for granted every day. Being able to have a jacket in the A/C, shoes on my feet, the ability to walk about freely, having a window to look outside in the classrooms, and lunch time. Lunch time, I had to admit, was my favorite.
“You seem happy,” Charlotte muttered.
Of course I was happy. I was munching on a slice of pizza.
“I thought . . . I guess I thought you’d be more upset or something,” she went on, looking me over carefully. Her eyes kept flickering down to my neck. The bite mark seemed to really bother her.
I just hummed, something I’d taken to doing when I didn’t care to discuss something. It also calmed me, the noise reminding me of a deeper hum, a more comforting sound.
“You jus
