When Wren returned from the bathroom, she moved quietly, almost ghost-like, to her seat at the table’s fringe. The dinner conversation had shifted to light anecdotes about competition, but Wren seemed untouched by the humor, her posture stiff, her gaze cast downward. As she sat down, she smoothed her skirt with excessive care, as though fixing invisible creases would keep attention away from her.Sandra, always sensitive to a shift in mood, set her fork aside and leaned toward Wren. Her voice, when she spoke, was gentle but persistent, “Wren, is something the matter? Is the food not to your taste? You haven’t eaten much tonight—should we ask the kitchen for something else?”Wren startled slightly at being addressed. She immediately offered a small smile, the corners of her lips trembling. “No, no, the food is wonderful, Auntie. Please don’t worry. I’m… just not very hungry lately.”She tried to sound cheerful, but her words were thin, brittle things against the warmth of the dining roo
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