But after Cami was done giggling, she said she was still scared. Izabel didn’t know if it was because Cami’s fear was that great, or because Cami doubted that Izabel had the control she purported. And Izabel was almost certain it was the latter. And Izabel resented Cami for a thought she only might be having. And she felt that resentment as she kissed Cami and held her until she fell asleep.

Izabel went to Jana’s room next. Jana took out her earbuds.

“You holding up okay?” Izabel asked.

Jana nodded. “You?”

“Yeah.”

Jana pinched her pajama pants. “The inspector didn’t get any of my hijabs.”

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. We can go buy you some tomorrow.”

“I don’t like to go out without one.”

Izabel thought of the scarf in her purse. “Would a scarf be okay? Until we buy one?”

Jana nodded.

“I was thinking about tomorrow,” Izabel said. “Is there anywhere you’re supposed to be?”

“Like school?”

“Yeah.”

“My mother was homeschooling me.”

“Ah, okay.”

“Until I decide on an apprenticeship. There are some people that will take on a shadow as young as fourteen.”

“So two more years.”

“You don’t have to do it,” Jana said.

“No, I mean, I would be happy to—”

“There are tutors and stuff.”

“There aren’t a lot of children your age around,” Izabel said.

“My parents called me a miracle.”

“Yes.”

“I guess I still am.”

“Right.”

They were quiet.

“I’m really sorry,” Izabel said.

“I know,” Jana said. “I mean, everyone is. Everyone at the hospital kept saying that.”

“Yeah. But it’s true. I mean, it’s true from me at least. Really true.”

They were quiet again, until Jana suddenly burst open. “I used to tell my parents that I thought something was wrong with me, because if I thought about terrible situations, like if me and another kid were kidnapped, and I could escape somehow, I’d save myself every time. And my parents were like, ‘You’re young,’ or, ‘That’s how you imagine it, but it’d be different if you lived it. You’d make the right choice then.’ But I knew I wouldn’t. I knew it. And now here I am, like I chose to save myself and they died.”

One second Jana’s eyes were dry and the next they were filled with tears that streamed down her face.

“But you didn’t choose it,” Izabel said, sitting down on the bed.

“Maybe I did!” Jana said. “Maybe thinking that way was making that choice.”

“No.” Izabel wrapped her arms around her. “No, no, no,” she kept repeating.

In the morning, Izabel got ready in their new bathroom. The sinks were shaped like seashells, carved into the vanity. Another odd throwback, like the kitchen stove. Izabel brushed her teeth, bent over, spit into it, and some of her spit splashed back directly into her eye.

“Shit,” she said.