I didn't want to hear anything said by my foster parents.

And I didn't want to answer them.

I didn't want to see their faces.

I wanted to run.

Run and never come back.

"Harmony, we've decided we won't ask anything else if you answer one question," my dad said.

I took a breath and said, "What is it?"

"Why are your parents in jail?"

I needed to answer this as simply as possible.

Silence. But my thoughts were loud enough.

Why are your parents in jail...

One word would end this silence.

The loudest word I will ever know of.

"Murder."

My foster parents said nothing.

Or maybe they did say something and I didn't hear it.

I walked into my room.

I didn't plan to come out for the rest of the day.

Or maybe even the rest of the year.