Jasmine felt as though a hammer had shattered against her chest, each blow heavier than the last. Pain lanced through her with every breath, sharp and unrelenting.

Helen, small as she was, had always been quick-witted. She knew that acting required commitment to the role. After slipping the bracelet into hiding, she reached out and lightly patted Jasmine's head in a gesture of mock reassurance.

“All done,” she chirped brightly. But her eyes betrayed her. She ...