The girl gently released the social worker’s hand and walked straight toward him, not running and not calling out, but moving with careful steps as though she had imagined this moment many times. Victor stretched his shackled hands toward her and she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. For nearly a full minute the room remained completely silent while the guards watched from the corners and the social worker scrolled through messages on her phone.
Then Avery leaned close to her father’s ear and whispered something that no one else heard.
The change in Victor was immediate and terrifying to witness. His face turned pale, his entire body began shaking, and the quiet tears that had been falling down his cheeks suddenly became deep uncontrollable sobs. He stared at his daughter with an expression that mixed shock, fear, and fragile hope.
“Is that true,” he asked in a trembling voice.
Avery nodded slowly.