“My neighbor insisted she saw my daughter at home during school hours… so I pretended to leave for work and hid under the bed. Minutes later, I heard multiple footsteps moving down the hallway.”

At 2 am, I knew what I had to do.

The next morning, I acted as if everything was normal. “Have a great day at school,” I said as I walked out the door at 7:30.

—You too, Mom—she said softly.

Fifteen minutes later, I got in my car, drove down the street, parked behind a hedge, and walked home in silence. My heart pounded with every step. I slipped inside, locked the door, and went straight to Lily’s room.

Her room was spotless. The bed was perfectly made. The desk was tidy.