Sunlight shines between the towers of the hospital, casting a single pocket of warmth on a lone picnic table. A beacon for my refuge. I take a seat and pull Cameron James’s business card from my purse. Cameron James Parent Advocate / District Liaison Exceptional Education for Exceptional Children The thought of finding placement for Lily without assistance is far more frightening than calling this person—and yet, I find myself terrified. Why? What are you afraid of? I flick the card against my fingertips while I go through a mental rundown. I knew the day would come when Lily would have to start school and we would have to make a decision. I just never thought we’d have so little choice. The reality is, Lily isn’t suited for a general-education setting. I know this, and yet I have avoided discussing it at all costs. In fact, it’s not something I have ever talked about with anyone. Not Peter. Not Paige. No one. Talking about it makes it real. Therein lies the problem: I’ve separated my head from my heart, to rationalize what I’ve done.
