Nadia opened the door before Sophie could knock, and that was the first sign that something was wrong. Nadia never hears people coming. She was always too distracted, too loud or too inside whatever was happening in her own head to notice whatever was happening out in the world to care.
Nadia opened the door and stepped back to allow Sophie to walk in.
The apartment was clean, and that was the second sign. There were no glasses left out, or bottles left on the counter. No shoes in the middle of the floor.
Nadia was wearing a plain black dress with no jewelry, and her hair was worn in a simple back ponytail. For the first time in Sophie's memory, her mother looked like a shadow of herself, and that was what made Sophie realize that things had indeed gone out of control.
"Sit down," Nad
