Zaid pushed open the door to see Sera sitting on the floor with her back against the couch, knees pulled to her chest, surrounded by bottles of wine. Her hair was loose, her mascara had run in two dark lines down her cheeks and her eyes were puffy and swollen from crying.

He ran to her and pulled her into his arms. On seeing him Sera began to cry again, her whole body shaking against his chest.

"I got your text, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" he spoke softly, his hand rubbing her back.

Sera said nothing.

Zaid looked around the empty house. "Dad isn't here?" He reached for...