WRITER'S POV

Vera couldn’t tell who was trembling more, Hannah or herself, as she helped her into the house. They sat down on a leather bench in the kitchen. Vera had never seen Hannah’s home this messy. No matter how wild her kids got, no matter how many times they spilled juice or scattered toys, Hannah always kept things spotless.

Hannah was a natural at being both a mother and a wife. If the kids messed up the house ten times, she cleaned it twenty. She never complained. She only scolded them lovingly and reminded them to be careful. So what had gone wrong now?

After a while, Hannah’s crying...