Always quietly.
Oliver listened carefully.
Then tugged on my sleeve.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Why didn’t anyone help her?”
The question hit everyone like a punch.
Because nobody had a good answer.
The crowd became silent.
Painfully silent.
Until finally an elderly man spoke.
“Because she never asked.”
Another woman nodded.
“She always made it look like she was doing fine.”
The silence returned.
Then Oliver said something that made several people cry.
