“Ethan,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, as if speaking too loudly might break the fragile sense of security he’d found.“Ethan, can you tell us why you were hiding under Mia’s bed?” Sergeant Lewis prompted gently.Ethan hesitated, glancing at Mia, who nodded encouragingly. “I didn’t know where else to go,” he admitted. “I got scared.”

Mia’s parents, who had been watching the scene unfold from the doorway, now stepped forward, their expressions softening with understanding. “Is he from the neighborhood?” Mia’s mother asked, her tone shifting from defensiveness to compassion.“We’ll need to investigate,” Officer Patel replied. “But first, let’s make sure Ethan is okay.”