"Do you know whether she's okay? "He glances up the empty stairs and inquires. Even though it pained my heart to think this was occurring in my own house, I kept quiet.

"Why didn't she try to shift? "Mathew is just as curious and asks him the same question.

"I don't know, she must have panicked."

Before entering my room, my mother unpacks my bag and offers me a fresh set of clothes. She looks around the room nervously as I assist her in putting them on. Pulling my pants higher to my waist, I concur that "it's a lovely room." She begins to speak, then immediately stops herself.

"What's...