Caspian

"Eat more beef," Mrs. Thompson said, her voice gentle, as she placed a generous portion of beef onto my plate of rice.

I nodded, forcing a weak smile onto my face. The aroma of savory beef and steaming rice wafted up from the plate, but my stomach remained stubbornly uncooperative. I wasn't hungry, but I had no choice. Ava sat beside me, her eyes fixed on her own plate as she methodically pushed the food around with her fork.

I wondered how Ava could still be eating after having lunch at my place just hours ago. Her appetite seemed unaffected by the earlier meal, or perhaps she was just...