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I should’ve gone back for the belt.

I should’ve stayed.

I should never have touched her in that room.

Audrey’s hands claw. Ella twists. The belt drops. A chair goes over.

Then Audrey grabs Ella’s hair.

My hands curl into fists. I can almost feel Ella’s pain in my own scalp. Her head jerks back. Her mouth opens.

She shoves Audrey.

Once.

Not enough.

Audrey comes at her again.

Another struggle.

Then Ella shoves her with both hands.

Hard.

Audrey’s shoe catches on the sheet.

For one suspended second, she’s off balance, arms spread.

Then she falls.

Backward.

Toward the cedar chest.

I know before impact.

Something in my body knows.

Audrey’s head hits the corner of the chest, and her neck snaps sideways.

Ella freezes.

I freeze with her.

The room on the screen goes still.

Audrey doesn’t move.

Ella falls to her knees beside her.

She touches Audrey’s neck. Tries again. Her face changes.

Even without sound, I hear the sob.

In my family, words have saved monsters and condemned innocents. Tonight, I choose the words that protect Ella.

Accident.