The morning sunlight streamed through the cracks in the dining room curtains, casting streaks of light. On the table, two cups of black coffee gave off a thin wisp of steam, yet none of the people in the room had any intention of touching the drinks.
Mark was already sitting there, but his weary gaze stared blankly out at the backyard. He hadn't slept. The image of Seren curled up on the pavilion floor, clutching the broken phone, continued to haunt him. A sense of guilt began to rise in his throat, but he forced it back down.
"Mark," Beatrice's voice broke the silence. "You look a mess. Let me take care of Seren today."
Mark turned slowly. He saw his mother spreading jam on a slice of bread. "What do you mean?"
"I'll take her to the doctor," Beatrice continued without looking up. "I know you have a lot of important meetings today. You don't need to add to your stress by dealing with a wife who's… unstable. Let me make sure she gets the best psychiatric care."
