“We’ll be back soon, Ana.” Mama caressed my cheek as she spoke, trying to ease the fear she could see in my eyes. “We just need to make sure your grandparents are safe.”
“I don’t want you to go,” I pleaded, my tears making no effort to hide themselves. “I want to keep you safe.”
“We’ll only be gone a day or two,” Papa said as he pulled on his coat. “You can take care of yourself while we’re gone, right?”
“I’m eighteen, Papa, of course I can, but that doesn’t mean--”
“Then you know that we can stay safe until we return.” Once his shoes were on, he came to me and ruffled my hair, something he’d done since I was a baby. “We love you.”