Beatrice accepted the glass, tears welling in her eyes. She looked up at me, her voice trembling slightly. "Yes, I still have family," she whispered, nodding rapidly.

After finishing the milk, she wiped her face with a shaky hand. "I'll go wash up and be right down."

Beatrice placed the cup on the table and stood up unsteadily. She walked toward her room, radiating a deep sense of loneliness.

I followed her and caught a glimpse of Finn approaching from the other end of the hallway. Together,