She saw him there and left.
So Ben returned the next night.
That time, he fell asleep.
When he woke, Diane was already carrying Brenda toward our room.
From then on, Ben kept coming back.
Night after night.
Trying desperately to stay awake.
Trying to protect his baby sister.
And I had been carrying his pillow back to his room every morning, thinking he was simply being stubborn.
My seven-year-old son had been exhausting himself because he believed he was the only person standing between his sister and someone who was deliberately making her cry.
I had never felt so proud of him.
And so guilty.
Part 6 — The Truth Comes Out
I woke Daniel immediately.
Then we woke Diane.
I didn’t scream.
Not yet.
I asked her to come downstairs.
Daniel sat beside me while Ben remained upstairs.
I looked directly at Diane and asked,
“Have you been intentionally waking Brenda at night?”
