Ivy did not go to the witness chair the way they expected. She stopped in the middle of the courtroom, looked up at the bench, and in a small but clear voice asked, “May I show you something that Mom doesn’t know about, Your Honor?” Judge Calloway leaned forward, surprised, then nodded gently. The child advocate handed the judge a small pink tablet Ivy had been clutching beneath her rabbit the entire time. Even I did not know it existed.

Adrian shot to his feet. “Your Honor, she’s a child, this is inappropriate.” The judge raised one hand without looking at him. “Sit down, Mr. Vance.” The screen was mirrored to the courtroom monitor. A home video began to play, filmed in shaky angles from a child’s height, the way a little girl films when no adult knows the camera is on. Then Adrian’s own voice filled the room, and the color drained from his face as he heard himself say the words he never meant anyone else to hear.