"We have to go," I said, the words almost lost in my voice's quiver.

She gripped my hand as she unfolded her legs from underneath her and stood. I didn't know why that surprised me, but it did, maybe because she'd waved off my touch the whole day. It reminded me that she was still a little girl.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, nodding to the blood smudging the corner of her mouth.

She knuckled it away and shook her head, but her chin trembled. I didn't know what to ...