She smiled at me gently, like she was trying to soften something heavy in the air. "Okay, then. You can eat when you're hungry later. Mr. Ashton had a swing built in the courtyard and planted a lot of flowers. Do you want to go see it?"
I knew she was trying to pull me out of my thoughts, to ease the pressure building inside me. I gave her a small squeeze on the arm and forced a light smile. "I'm fine, Mrs. Eriksen. I'll go rest in my room. You should take a break too."
She didn't argue. I walked back inside, feeling the weight of the house press on me again.
In my bedroom, I opened the closet and started pulling everything out. Clothes fell across the bed in messy layers. One by one, I folded them carefully and placed them into a suitcase, my hands steady even though my chest wasn't.
The door opened before I could finish.
