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mouth goes dry and I’m not sure if I can make a sound. I nod in response to his question. The look of genuine concern in his eyes makes my heart melt a little and for the first time since I got home I start to feel safe again.
    “This is my partner Officer Clark.” I look at the older, shorter man, curiosity on his face, he’s wondering how his partner and I know each other.
    “Hello,” I say timidly, hoping that he’s not inclined to ask too many questions.
    “Kelly.” I turn my attention back to Officer Tate. “Where’s Lily?”
    “She’s in her basinet sleeping.” I point over to where she is.
    He nods, seemingly relieved that Lily is okay. “Can you tell us what happened?”
    “I got off work a little while ago and when I came home, my door was slightly open. I came in and found my apartment wrecked.”
    “Is there anything missing?”
    “From what I can tell so far, just my television set and DVD player. I called for the police right away. I didn’t want to touch anything else,” I say, wrapping my arms around my torso protectively.
    “You did the right thing,” says Officer Clark, with more of a concerned fatherly tone. I think of my dad for a second and wonder how he’d feel if he knew his daughter’s apartment just got broken into. The apparent adrenaline rush that had me operating on pure instinct begins to wear off and the reality of what has just happened starts to set in, taking control of my emotions. I fight back against the tears that threaten to spill over and quickly look away from both men.
    Logan moves around me until we’re face to face and he gently grasps my shoulders. “Shit Kelly, you’re shaking.”
    “I am?” I question through now chattering teeth.
    “It’s okay, you’re going to be fine. You’re doing great.” He leads me over to what’s normally my living room, bends down to pick up an overturned chair, and helps me to sit down. He crouches in front of me and looks up at me with worried eyes. “Is there anyone I can call for you?”
    I shake my head, still fighting back the tears. “Will you be alright here while we have a look around?”
    I nod in response and he gives me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I can tell he’s watching me closely, making sure I’m not in shock or about to lose it. But at the same time he has a job to do and I’m sure he doesn’t want to set off any bells and whistles with his partner, or make him think that there’s something more going on between us than just a casual acquaintanceship even though there’s not.
    Lily starts to stir, in the basinet situated beside me and I have an overwhelming urge to hold her close, make sure that she’s safe. I pick her up and I hold her as tightly as I can, snuggling her closely to me and letting her little body give me strength. I gently rock her back and forth in my arms, letting the repetitive motion soothe and settle us both.
    After looking around and taking my statement (and that of a few neighbors), both Officer Tate and his partner leave, leaving me feeling alone and slightly terrified. The thought of sleeping here alone makes me nervous and jittery, and I try my hardest not to panic. All the baby books I’ve read say that children can sense when their parents are stressed. I make sure that Lily is clean and fed before I put her down in her crib, and then I quickly change into a pair of sweats—not wanting to be caught in anything skimpy if my intruder returns. I want to be able to run if I need to. I grab the sharpest knife I can find from the kitchen and place it on my nightstand—along with my cell phone, and settle into bed with the lights still on. A glance at the clock tells me that it’s after midnight.
    “Happy eighteenth birthday, Mia,” I say to myself, feeling just a little bit victorious that Lily and I are both now free.
    I’m not sure how long I’ve been sitting in bed, but my head starts to bob as I try my hardest not to doze off. A knock on the