Chapter 20: Chenjerai Buddies
Kia lay on her bunk, staring at the ceiling. He treated her like a child, sending her to her room because she’d done something the adults disapproved of, though her own mother never used this punishment. Rather, she preferred to give her rebellious daughter a menial task that involved hard physical effort: after the job was complete, the reason for her behavior and her sulk would be forgotten. Staying in her room stoked the hot burning frustration in her chest, but if she stopped dwelling on the reasons for her anger, her thoughts would cycle around to Madaxshia and she’d break down.
A quiet knock and a voice called, “Can I come in?”
“Cheydii!”
The instant the older woman stepped inside, Kia’s barriers broke and Cheydii gathered her into her arms as she so
