“Oh no, sweetheart,” he said reassuringly. “Your brother will be just fine. Nobody di:es from a bruise.”

She looked up at him, eyes wide and wet.
“Really?”

“Really,” he nodded. “But we don’t hit people, okay?”

“I won’t,” she sniffed.

“Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

The girl wiped her tears, leaned into her mother’s arms, and for the first time in days, her crying stopped. Peace returned to the station—along with a few quiet smiles from those who had witnessed the smallest, most heartfelt confession of the day.