By the end, Melissa was sitting on the floor with her back leaning against the closet, and her eyes were the size of saucers.

Lola stood a few meters away. She was chewing on her fingertip and picking off flakes of dead skin in nervous anticipation of Melissa’s reaction. Lola dropped her hands and fiddled with her robe. Her hair fell over her shoulder, and she started pulling at the strands.

“Please, please, please say something,” Lola said, dropping her hands and begging ...