I nodded, but the words felt heavier than stone in my chest. One step at a time toward what? Toward helping her? Toward forgiving her? Toward taking responsibility for something that was never mine?

I didn’t know. And the truth was, I hated how I didn’t know.

I offered her my hand, slow and hesitant. “Come on. You should rest. You can’t stay on the floor like that.”

She stared at my hand for a long moment, as if touching me would break something fragile between us. Then she placed ...