My mother's hands trembled against my arms, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "I can't face him, Gaia. I can't. Please, just—just tell him I'm not here. Tell him to leave."

The knocking continued, urgent and insistent. Through the thin door, I could hear Joels' voice—roughened with emotion, shaking with something that sounded like desperate hope.

"Gaia? Please. I know this is difficult, but I need to know. Is Nelly there?"

I looked at my mother's pale face, at ...