Act I The zipper broke before Nia even reached the top. She tried again, pulling the metal tab with both hands while the fabric around her wrist hung loose and frayed. Across the…

Act I Nia knew something was wrong the moment she opened the front door. A stranger stood on the porch beside a pet carrier. In the living room, her stepmother held the Golden…

Act I Nia came home still wearing her diner apron, tired after another long shift. Before she even put her things away, she went to the small metal box where she had been…

Act I Nia had barely stepped through the front door when she placed her violin case carefully beside the living-room table. In her other hand was the invitation to that night’s school concert….

Act I Nia knew the bracelet before she was close enough to touch it. She had barely stepped into the living room when her eyes landed on Ava’s wrist. The delicate bracelet caught…

Act I Nia had not asked for anything expensive. Standing beneath the bright department-store lights, the fourteen-year-old held a simple winter coat against her shoulders and checked the zipper with her fingertips. Her…

Act I The kitchen looked like any ordinary school morning. Warm sunlight poured through the windows as Ava and Caleb got ready for school. Their lunchboxes sat on the island, packed with sandwiches,…

Act I Rain tapped softly against the windows when Nia finally walked through the front door. Her school jacket was damp, her backpack hung heavily from one shoulder, and she looked exhausted from…

Act I By the time Nia finished cleaning the living room, her arms were tired. The mop leaned against the wall beside a bucket and a pile of cleaning cloths. Nia was still…