The door slammed. The table shook with fear, and the chairs knocked themselves over. Her house had never been so scared of her, for her. Ramming her hand against the marble shoe holder, over and over. What was there, blood and tears. What wasn't, his bear slippers, her clarity.

Getting up and staggering to the balcony, she slid the door open collapsing onto the cold cement. Scrapes adorned her on...