Nova hugged BRIDGET to her chest. The tips of her ears tingled as she began to shake. Not bounce, not flap, but shake. Billy could put down the camcorder. Francine could put away the cards. They could both go away and leave Nova alone. She did not want any more testing. She did not want any more talking. She did not want any more pretend-to-be-forever family.

Bridget was gone.

And Nova was shaking.

She shook her head one-two-three-four times, hit her temple with her palm one-two-three-four times, bit the space between her thumb and forefinger, and rocked and hummed and flapped, but nothing made her feel better.

She put her forehead on the table and closed her eyes.

“Nova?” asked Francine softly. Billy patted her shoulder. She ignored them.

She was All Done.