If unraveling her relationship with Mom meant unraveling with it, then so be it. She was already undone, and it wasn’t as scary as anticipating it had been. All that mattered now was how she put herself back together.

Ashna opened her front door and let herself into her house, ready for whatever awaited her.

The living room was tidy. The mustard and green pillows arranged in an exact diamond pattern. The kitchen cleaned up. No dishes in the sink. No glasses or cups strewn about the place. No scarves or stoles draped around chairs.

Had Mom left without telling her? Again? Now, when Ashna needed her, needed the truth? Now, when she realized just how much she didn’t know?

I’m not leaving. No matter what happens, I’m never leaving you again.

Words Shobi and Rico had both said to her. Her life had turned into a sonorous chamber with the same sounds coming at her from all directions. It couldn’t be a lie.

An urge to scream swelled in her chest. On the way here, she had practiced what she would say to her mother. The questions she would ask. How patient she would be. She’d finally listen.

Now she wouldn’t have the chance.

She stormed into the living room and disheveled the cushions. Her hands shook. Her skin felt too tight around her. The kitchen was empty too, and sparkling clean.

“Mom?” the word broke her voice as she called out.

She ran up the stairs and into her room and yanked open the dresser drawer. The mother-of-pearl inlay box winked up at her, concealing within it her mother’s ring. The one Ashna had pulled out of the garbage at thirteen, another symbol of her parents’ ugly marriage, which she’d believed made her ugly too. Pushing open her window, she pulled her arm back and tossed the box, ring and all, into the enchanted forest of her childhood, letting out the ungodly scream that was choking her.

“Ashna, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Shobi’s voice hit her like something in a dream, piercing through her back like an arrow.

She spun around. “Mom?”

Worry creased Shobi’s forehead. “What the matter, beta?”

“I thought you left.”

“Mina and I were having tea on the patio. We didn’t hear you come in until you . . . why did you scream?”

“If you screamed because you thought Shobi was gone, then that’s good news, right?” Mina Kaki walked into the room behind Mom.

Then the funniest thing happened: both Ashna and Shobi rolled their eyes and smiled at the same time.

“Did you stay the night?” Ashna asked her aunt.

“I could hardly leave Shobi by herself when . . . well, you look better than you did last night.” Mina Kaki raised a brow.

“I’m fine. I need to talk to Mom.”