“I hi:t my brother on the leg… really hard. Now he has a bru:ise. And he’s going to di:e. I didn’t mean to. Please don’t put me in jail…”

For a brief second, the officer froze—then his expression softened. He gently pulled her into a hug.

“Oh no, sweetheart,” he said reassuringly. “Your brother will be just fine. Nobody di:es from a bruise.”

She looked up at him, eyes wide and wet.
“Really?”

“Really,” he nodded. “But we don’t hit people, okay?”

“I won’t,” she sniffed.

“Do you promise?”