The force of Lydia’s slap didn’t just snap Violet’s head to the side; it seemed to sever the last taut wire holding her precarious performance together. With a gasp that was more theatrical release than genuine surprise, Violet’s body went limp. She didn’t just fall; she curated her collapse, tilting backward with a ballerina’s tragic grace before crumpling off the high hospital bed. The sound of her body hitting the polished vinyl floor was a sickening, meaty thud, followed by the ...