Emelia walked into the hallway, expecting to see her daughter Itzel already seated at the dinner table. But the table was empty, except for the steaming plates of food that Maria had just brought out.
"Maria, where's Itzel?" Emelia asked, looking around the empty hallway.
Maria hesitated, "She's in her room, ma'am. She came in a while ago."
Emelia nodded and headed towards Itzel's room. "Itzy, I'm coming in?" Emelia called out, knocking softly on the door.
Without hesitation, she pushed open the door. "Itzy, you..." She stopped, her blood running cold at the sight that met her eyes.
Itzel lay on the floor, her wrist slit open, blood pooling around her like a dark halo. Her eyes were closed, her face pale and still. Emelia's heart stopped as she rushed towards her daughter.
