James pounded on the door. His fist hit wood hard enough to shake the frame.
“Vanessa, open the door! Now!” His voice was sharp, scared. “You’re scaring your mother.”
Silence answered him. Then Vanessa’s voice came through, raw and broken.
“I don’t want to see anyone! Go away!”
James looked at Veronica. She nodded once, tears already falling. He stepped back and slammed his shoulder into the door.
Wood cracked. The lock gave way. The door burst open.
They found her curled on the floor. Her knees were pulled to her chest. Her head rested on them like she wanted to disappear.
Her hands were bleeding. Glass shards stuck to her palms from the mirror.
Veronica gasped at the scene before her. Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Dear, what happened?” Veronica dropped to her knees beside her. “O
