Five Years Buried — Theo's True Age

He's with the sitter. The sitter said he slipped out. Someone saw a little boy near your old neighborhood in Queens. I did not wait.

I ran into the rain. The old apartment in Queens was supposed to be empty. I pushed open the stolen wooden door. Theo?

The light snapped on. Theo was not alone. He was sitting on the old sofa with a cup of hot chocolate in both hands. Theo looked guilty.

Mom, I didn't drink it. I smelled it first. Good survival instinct. I rushed over and pulled Theo behind me. What did you do?

Me? You came running the second you heard your son was here. Just like I thought you would. You used my child as bait?

He was never in danger. He's only four years old! Dante's jaw tightened. I know exactly how old he is.

The room went silent. Four years old. Gray-green eyes. born after you died. I said nothing. Tell me I am wrong, Lena. Mom, why did he call you Lena?

Isn't your name Ava? My name used to be Lena. And mine used to be the blind man you brought home.