Chapter 3 - The Price of Safety
The safety plan lasted beyond Ellie's discharge. Maya's employer gave her unpaid days, then reminded her that the inventory audit would not move because her family failed. Her apartment complex charged a late fee when she used rent money for emergency childcare. Elaine had watched Ellie after school four days a week; replacing that help cost more than Maya's car payment. Rachel posted in the family chat that Maya was "using one mistake to erase six good years." Warren sent a thumbs-up to the wrong message. Maya removed their names from the school pickup list. At home, Ellie slept on a mattress beside Maya's bed and kept the purple backpack within reach. Each time a car door shut outside, she tapped the moon zipper twice. Maya answered by tapping the bedframe, though the counselor had warned her not to turn fear into a secret language. On Friday, Seth called to say another absence could cost Maya the promotion she had chased for two years. Normal life had become a bill she couldn't pay.
