They told her her father was gone, leaving her to accept a painful loss. But everything changed when eleven Marines walked in, revealing a truth that challenged what she had been led to believe.

“Mom,” Lily said after a moment, her voice smaller now, “can we go home?”

I crouched beside her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “We just got here, sweetheart.”

“I know.” She swallowed, her eyes glistening but not quite spilling over. She had learned, somehow, to hold her tears in longer than she should have had to. “It’s just… I don’t think we’re supposed to be here.”

The words hit harder than anything else could have.

“Why would you say that?” I asked gently, though part of me already knew the answer.