settling into the Persian rug e

ulling tight across her thighs. Her hands, adorned with heavy gold rings, grabbed the

ping the screen to open the camera app. He held it up, the lens pointed directly at Elvera, a s

of the backpack and viole

shoo

out onto the intricat

welry box. There was n

r bottle rolled a few inches before stopping against the coffee table leg. Finally

hovered over the path

t-shirts. She frantically shook the fabric out, tossing it aside. She grabbe

th

The silence in the room

y Elvera's cheap possessions. The blood rushed to Frona's face, turning her skin a mottled, u

grin slid off his face, replaced by a blank, stupid

ra. She stared at the floorboards, her voice a weak, trembling w

eling in the dirt of their own making. The corner

d an apology. Sh

vy medical books, her fingers brushing the dust off the covers, and slid them back into the

kward in the quiet room. He adjusted his cardigan, t

away from Elvera. "You can't blame us for b

slung it over her shoulder. She didn't even d

nt door, her eyes fixed on Crocket

p, a harsh, wet, tearing so

ne loo

ced his way out of his room. At the top of the stairs, Kimball gripped the wooden banister. His knuckles were bone-white. He was wearing a th

in slick with a feverish sweat, but his

feet down the stairs, his

er face instantly morphing into a mask of maternal panic.

ntly shoved h

mbled bac

oom and planted himself directly in front of Elvera, using his fra

e spine shook. When he finally caught hi

sped. His vocal cords sounded like

me!" Donita whined, steppin

ort drained the color from his lips, leavi

is eyes melted away, replaced by a deep, agoni

ion. She reached out, her cool hand resting flat against Kimball's trembl

His hand was shaking violently. He pulled out a pie

The edges were worn smooth, the numbers

ow against her face. "It's my medical fund. Everything

the warm plastic. A tight, pa

e card. Her

ands clawing toward Elvera's fist. "That's his

s bony elbows locking as he ph

cracking, "I will refuse every single treatment! I

ward. He stared at his son, terrified by the a

his life on the line for her. He was ski

tly around Kimball's freezing, bony wrist. She sque

, her voice so low only he