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…

Act I Nia knew something was wrong before anyone said a word. She came home from school carrying her books and stepped into the dining room, expecting the ordinary noise of dinner: silverware…

Act I The front door opened, and Nia ran toward it with a smile she had been saving all day. Her stepmother had just returned from a business trip, dragging a luxury suitcase…

Act I The room went quiet when Nia asked the question. “Can we pick up my new glasses today?” At fourteen, Nia had learned how to ask for things carefully. Not because she…

Act I The room went silent before anyone understood how quickly things had gone wrong. Cold white lights washed over the military barracks, reflecting off rows of metal lockers and perfectly folded blankets….