In January, Victoria's mother, Laverne, noticed how often her daughter came home hungry and dizzy.
One night, Victoria almost fainted while helping to fold clothes.
Laverne sat her down at the small kitchen table and asked her what was going on.
Victoria tried to lie.
Then she cried.
Then she told the truth.
Laverne closed her eyes for a long time.
Later, Isaiah would imagine that moment in a thousand different ways, always fearing that Victoria had been punished because of him.
But that's not what happened.
Laverne was exhausted, penniless, and terrified by every bill that came in, but something in her face softened when she understood.
The next morning, he prepared two smaller sandwiches instead of one large one.
He added extra bread where he could.
She herself skipped breakfast more than once.
Victoria remembered it too.
His kindness had not been without cost.
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