Breakfast came with canned food and stale crackers on the table.
Iyisha woke later than everyone. Her body felt heavy before she even opened her eyes, and when she sat up, her stomach turned like she had moved too fast. She stayed still for a moment, one hand gripping the edge of the mattress until the room settled.
Malcolm was not beside her.
She found him downstairs near the window with Lance. They were talking low, but both of them stopped for half a second when she came in. Malcolm looked at her face first, then lower. He caught himself and turned back to the window.
Iyisha pretended she did not see it.
Marybeth pushed a plate toward her. "Eat. I gave you more."
Iyisha looked at the food. Cold beans. Sardines. Crackers that had gone soft inside the box. Her stomach rolled again.
"I'm not hungry."
Marybeth did not move the plate back. "Eat anyway."
