Act I “I knew it. You stole my necklace.” Stepmother held the gold chain up between two fingers like she had uncovered proof of everything she had…

Act I “A jacket for Ava and the sneakers Caleb wanted.” Stepmother said it like she was announcing generosity, standing in the entrance with a luxury suitcase…

Act I “Can we pick up my new glasses today?” Nia asked it while sitting beside the coffee table, one finger holding her place in an open…

Act I “Why is my suitcase packed?” Nia asked it from the living room entrance, schoolbooks held tight against her chest. The house looked too elegant for…

Act I “That award has my name on it.” Nia said it quietly, but the words still cut through the dining room. The evening celebration had been…

Act I “Why did I get cleaning supplies?” Nia asked it from the edge of the Christmas morning living room, her voice small but steady. The tree…

Act I “Where’s my boarding pass?” Nia asked it softly at the airport check-in counter, still holding the strap of her small travel backpack. The international terminal…

Act I “My solo starts in twenty minutes.” Nia said it while standing near the front door in her navy performance dress, the wooden violin case still…

Act I “Where am I supposed to sleep?” Nia asked it from the upstairs hallway, but her voice sounded smaller than the house around her. The evening…