Ariel's POV
As I hobbled back to my room, the weight of the events of the day pressed down on me. Alan's skipping of supper and Marie's persistent teasing had sapped me emotionally. I let out a long breath, attempting to calm my rushing mind, then closed the door behind me. I was so glad to be back home.
Stella's message had given a faint hope. A shopping trip tomorrow would be a pleasant diversion from the turmoil my life had descended into. Agreeing to see her, I scribbled my response and had a constant sense of foreboding chew at the margins of my consciousness.
My phone rang as I was ready to set it down, the sound startling in the calm of my room. On the screen Alan's name flashed. As I responded, my heart skipped a beat and my voice shook just slightly. "Yes?"
"Ariel," he contin
