Her mother sighed.
“Baby, rich people have problems too,” she said. “But it’s not our business.”
“She asked for help,” Sky insisted.
“Sky, we need this job.” Her mother’s voice was tired. “Please don’t cause trouble.”
Sky went quiet. She understood more than kids her age were supposed to. Rent. Late notices. The way her mom’s shoulders dropped when bills came in the mail.
But she didn’t stop thinking about Eloin.
The next day, Sky went back with her mother. While her mom scrubbed the kitchen, Sky waited by the doorway until no one was looking. Then she slipped down the hallway and found the same room.
Eloin sat by the window, knees tucked under her, looking out at the garden like she was watching a world she wasn’t allowed to enter.
“You came back?” Eloin whispered when she saw Sky.
“Of course,” Sky said. “We’re friends now.”
Eloin blinked.
“Friends?” she repeated as if the word was fragile.
“If you want,” Sky added quickly.
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of Eloin’s mouth.
“I do,” she said. “I really do.”
“Can I braid your hair?” Sky asked. “I promise I’ll be gentle.”
Eloin looked scared, but she nodded.
Sky sat behind her and began to part the remaining hair carefully, fingers practiced and sure. At first, it felt normal—just another Sunday morning braiding her little cousin’s hair back home.
Then her fingertips brushed something cold and hard under the strands.
Sky froze.
“Elo,” she said softly. “There’s something in your hair.”
Eloin flinched.
“Please don’t tell,” she whispered. “I’m not supposed to know.”
“Know what?”
“That it’s my fault,” Eloin said, voice cracking. “That if I were better, she wouldn’t have to do this.”
Sky’s chest hurt.
“Elo, this isn’t your fault,” she said.
Before she could say more, Miss Calva’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
“What are you touching?”
Miss Calva crossed the room in three long strides and grabbed Eloin’s arm—not hard enough to leave bruises, but firm enough to make the girl wince.
“Come with me,” she said.
“Wait,” Sky protested. “She didn’t do anything.”
“You need to leave,” Miss Calva said coldly. “Now.”
Sky watched them walk down the hall toward the bathroom. Her heart pounded. She knew what she was supposed to do—go back to the kitchen, stay out of the way, protect her mother’s job.
She followed.
She pressed herself against the wall outside the bathroom door and listened.