The sun was setting by the time she dragged herself into the house. Her back ached with every step, and normal breathing was still a challenge she’d not quite met. She sighed as she pushed the door open, carefully toed off her boots, and limped dismally into the kitchen. “Hello.” Casie squawked like a trapped chicken, spun toward the noise, and grabbed her ribs. The girl in the striped leggings lunged back a pace and stared at her with wide, unblinking eyes. “Geez!” Casie rasped, breathing carefully lest certain ribs decided to spring out of their cage. “What are you doing here?” A tiny gold hoop adorned the girl’s right nostril, nearly matching her caramel latte skin. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just worried so I stuck around.” Casie took in these words with some misgiving and winced from her bent position. “Do I know you?” “We met this morning.” She leaned sideways a little so as to look into Casie’s eyes. “Don’t you remember?” “Of course I remember.
