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Shawn appeared in the doorway then, briefcase in hand, looking confused.
“What’s going on?”
Steven stood, straightening his jacket. “We should go.
Let the family have some space.”
They left quickly, and Johnny disappeared to his room before I could stop him. I pretended to accept their explanation. But inside, something had hardened into steel.
Over the following two weeks, I watched.
Steven and Doris started visiting more often, always when Shawn claimed to be “working late.”
Each visit ended the same way: they’d go to Johnny’s room, close the door, and emerge 20 minutes later with Johnny looking smaller and more broken.
I couldn’t stand it anymore.
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