The school bus driver noticed a little girl crying every morning

But his gut told him this wasn’t about chores.

The next morning, John watched her more closely. Emily climbed the bus steps slowly. No smile. No spark in her eyes. She sat in her usual seat and pressed her forehead lightly against the window.

Halfway through the route, he noticed something new.

She flinched.

It was small. Almost invisible. But when one of the older boys laughed loudly behind her, she tensed up like someone expecting to be hit.