Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO STOPPED EVERYTHING"Everyone, please continue," Brenda said impatiently.
The meeting resumed.
Numbers appeared on the giant screen.
Executives discussed investments.
But Mia couldn't hear any of it.
The voices were becoming louder.
The lights were too bright.
The room felt smaller.
Mia pressed both hands over her ears.
Her rabbit slipped from her arms.
No one moved.
Except Karen.
She quietly walked across the room.
"Hey, sweetheart."
Mia looked up.
Karen lowered herself until they were at eye level.
"You don't have to talk."
Mia's trembling slowed.
Karen picked up the rabbit.
"Is this yours?"
Mia nodded.
Karen placed it gently back into her arms.
Across the room, Lorenzo watched.
His jaw tightened.
He had seen doctors.
Therapists.
Teachers.
Specialists.
He had watched countless people pretend to understand his daughter.
But this woman didn't pretend.
She simply paid attention.
Brenda rolled her eyes.
"Karen, this is a billion-dollar meeting."
Karen didn't look at her.
"She's a child."
Brenda's expression hardened.
"And she's disrupting it."
Karen finally stood.
"Then maybe the meeting isn't more important than she is."
The room went completely silent.
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Lorenzo stared at Karen.
For the first time in years, someone had said exactly what he was thinking.
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