By the time I got upstairs, my mom was done in the kitchen. I shut the bedroom door behind me and leaned against it for a moment. Scott was in the bathroom. I could hear the sound of water pouring. 

I changed into something soft and simple. I brushed my hair out, tied it loosely, and forced a small smile in the mirror. 

“You’ll be fine,” I whispered to myself. “Just… breathe.” 

By the time I went back downstairs, the dining room lights were already on, ...