Framed: The Dancer's Reckoning

nce house loomed, a two-story colonial, white paint gleaming under the California sun. It looked lik

felt heavier th

months. The words st

"A new family, Ava. Brenda and Isabelle will be g

the kind that was all teeth and no war

a silk blouse and perfectly tailored

voice was clipped, like

anaged, trying to sound

said otherwise. "Your room is upstai

e grand staircase. She was all long, tanned limbs and a bored

made it." Isabelle' s

, put-upon sound. "Isa

Just keeping it real, Mom. Hope you broug

le. So much for a warm welcome. Cozy proba

ing for polite. "I'll j

olished wooden stairs, each step echoing. Isabelle wa

the back garden. A single bed,

ouse pressed in. She was an intruder here,

half-finished on her laptop. She needed it. Her Engl

work. For her mom'

m sat on top of her clothes in

m," she whispered

s sharp laugh, then Isabelle'

to ignore her. They were

eep breath.