CHAPTER 2 — THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN DINOSAUR
CHAPTER 2 — THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN DINOSAUR
Daniel slowly picked up the drawing.
The green dinosaur.
Crooked legs.
A giant smile.
A tiny red cape.
His hands trembled.
"Where did you get this?" he asked.
Clara's face went pale.
Leo looked up from her shoulder.
"I drew that," Leo whispered.
Daniel stared at the paper.
He remembered it instantly.
Three years ago, Leo had become obsessed with drawing dinosaurs. Every page in the house had one.
One afternoon, after Daniel missed yet another school event, Leo had disappeared from the playground.
The entire neighborhood searched for hours.
When they finally found him, he was sitting beside a bus stop crying, holding a dinosaur drawing.
Daniel had forgotten most of that terrible day.
But Clara hadn't.
Because she was the woman who found him.
"I was working at the community center back then," Clara said quietly.
"I saw him alone."
Leo's eyes widened.
"The dinosaur lady..."
Clara smiled sadly.
"Yes."
Daniel felt something twist inside his chest.
Leo remembered her.
Not because she bought him candy.
Not because she entertained him.
Because she stayed.
For nearly three hours she sat beside a frightened little boy until his family found him.
And after that day, she occasionally volunteered at the center where Leo attended weekend programs.
Then funding cuts closed the center.
Life moved on.
Until tonight.
"What are you doing here?" Daniel asked.
Clara hesitated.
Then she opened the suitcase.
Inside were dozens of drawings.
Letters.
School projects.
Photographs.
Every single one involved Leo.
Daniel frowned.
"I don't understand."
Clara looked away.
Then she finally told the truth.
"The social worker called me six months ago."
The room became silent.
"What social worker?"
"The one assigned to Leo after his teacher reported concerns."
Daniel froze.
His heart stopped.
"What concerns?"
Clara swallowed.
"That your son was showing signs of emotional abandonment."
Leo lowered his eyes.
Daniel felt physically sick.
For years he had built a billion-dollar company.
For years he told himself he was doing it for his son.
May you like
Meanwhile his son was slowly breaking apart.
And everyone had noticed except him.
