As we left the police station, I held Emily close. The ordeal had been terrifying, yet it had shown me the strength of my family. We had faced our fears and emerged intact.

Later that night, as I tucked Emily into bed, she looked up at me and smiled. “Mommy, can we see the birdie again?”

I laughed, kissing her forehead. “Maybe,” I said. “But next time, we’ll make sure it’s in a cage.”