20

Suddenly she caught her own reflection in the shop window. Centered just right, her face was imprinted in the plate on display.

19

Her words poured out like flood water--fierce, brown cannonballs filled with mud and twisted steel and blind power.

18

Her eyelashes still glistened with the tears that a hug and a cookie helped soothe.

17

A bath is for soaking in pleasure. A shower is for washing off pain.

16

Her dog made little whining noises and snorted while his paws kicked and twitched in a dream where he romped forever in meadows and fields.

15

She watched the little girl twirl and twirl, lost in her little girl world... and her heart broke for the little girl she never was.