Emilia finally dragged herself from the bed, a day after her kids came to see her. It felt like her grief loosened just enough to let a sharper need take hold. It was a need for answers.

She braced herself on the edge of the bed, forcing her hands to stay steady as she pushed down the flood of memories. Today, she would search her parents' home. She needed to see with her own eyes, to understand what had truly happened.

The stale air in her room clung to her body, and after days of isolation, it felt like a second skin. She shuffled toward the bathroom, turning on the...