Lisa’s son, Mike, couldn’t stop talking about his new friend, Sophie. Every day, it was Sophie this, Sophie that. Curious and hopeful about connecting, Lisa finally agreed to meet Sophie’s mom. But when she opened the door, Lisa’s world came crashing down—it was someone from her past.
Lisa drove slowly as she approached the school, glancing in the rearview mirror at Mike, who was staring out the window. The silence between them was heavy, filled with the weight of everything they had been through. The town, with its unfamiliar streets and strange faces, still felt foreign to Lisa.
She hoped the fresh start would help them heal, but she worried about Mike. Ever since his father’s death, he had seemed quieter and more withdrawn. Would he be able to make new friends? Would he feel comfortable in this new place?
As Mike hopped out of the car, she called, “Have a good day, sweetie! Be brave!”
When she picked him up later that day, his eyes were bright, and he practically skipped to the car. “Mom! I made a new friend! Her name is Sophie!”
Lisa smiled, relieved. Maybe this move would be good for them after all. Sophie became a regular topic of conversation from then on.
One afternoon, Lisa picked Mike up from school. He ran over, grinning from ear to ear, and hugged her tightly.
“Hey, buddy! How was your day? You seem happy,” Lisa said, smiling as they walked to the car.
“Yeah! It was awesome!” Mike replied, still beaming as he climbed into the car.
“Really? What happened today?” Lisa asked, curious.
“Sophie invited me to her house to play!” Mike said excitedly.
“Oh? When are you going?” Lisa asked, glancing at him as she started the car.
“She said tomorrow!” Mike replied, bouncing a little in his seat.
“Well, I’ll need to talk to her parents first to make sure it’s okay,” Lisa said.
Mike rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. “Here! Sophie lives with her mom. She gave me her number,” he said, handing it over.
“Thanks, Mike. I’ll text her tonight,” Lisa said, tucking the paper away.
At home, Lisa sat down on the couch, pulling out her phone. She typed the number Mike had given her and began to text.
“Hi, I’m Lisa, Mike’s mom. He told me Sophie invited him over tomorrow. Is that okay with you?”
What happened next changed everything… FULL STORY on the next page.
TAP ” READ MORE ” 👇
