Cecilia Adler was actually glad to be locked up. Otherwise, she would have had to work, even with her lame leg.
Vivian Lee gloated, "Cecilia, why are you being so stubborn with Dad? It wouldn't kill you to just give in a little. You should learn from me and be more magnanimous. I was able to forgive the person who stole my gold ring."
'Yeah, right!' Cecilia scoffed inwardly.
'You only forgave them because you got your ring back.'
As twilight fell and plumes of cooking smoke curled into the air, the sounds of laughter and conversation from the family of three in the living room drifted into the bedroom, grating on Cecilia Adler's nerves. She stuffed cotton in her ears, but it did little to block out the noise. Finally, she dove under her quilt and pulled it over her head, at last finding some peace and quiet.
'Just go to sleep.'
'If I'm asleep, I won't feel so out of place.'
She closed her eyes, and a warm wetness spread across her face.
She had started to cry.
