As Officer José López parked his patrol car in front of the small, weather-worn house on Maple Street, he felt a knot form in his stomach. The details Vanessa had relayed to him were troubling, and he knew the situation required not just his training but his empathy. He approached the door, noting the faint sound of cartoons still playing inside, mingling with the unsettling silence that often accompanies distress.
He knocked gently, announcing his presence, “Liliana, it’s Officer López. I’m here to help you.”
There was a pause before the door creaked open, revealing a petite girl with wide, teary eyes. Liliana’s face was pale, her fragile frame swallowed by an oversized t-shirt. Her gaze was a mix of hope and fear as she stepped back to let him in.
