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She laid the book carefully on her lap, with the pages facing down to keep her place, and spread her hands on the cover, hoping to calm herself. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths in and out.
    “Your parents are here.” Anna opened her eyes to find Carlene standing over her, wearing another pair of ridiculous scrubs, this time with puppies all over them.
    “Oh, thanks.” Her voice was hoarse. She braced herself against the dizziness that had suddenly set in, got up, and walked slowly behind Carlene as she led her to the main door of the unit. Carlene swiped her ID card through a black box on the wall. Anna caught a glimpse of Carlene’s newly applied leopard-print acrylics. The double doors unlocked, Carlene moved to the side, and they opened so slowly it was painful.
    Anna’s parents stood a few feet away. Her mother had dressed her slim frame impeccably, as usual. She wore dress slacks with heels, a white blouse, and a Hermès scarf tied rather tightly around her neck. Her thin lips formed her usual cruel smile, which was really just a distorted frown. Anna’s father wore brown pants with a white button-down shirt, the top button left undone. His arched posture hadn’t changed, and he stood an inch or two shorter than he actually was. He offered her an uncomfortable smile as he hiked up his pants.
    “Anna,” her mother practically sang. She wrapped her arms around Anna and gave her a hug that lasted too long. Anna reached her arms around her mother and let them drop deadly to her sides when her mother released her.
    “Hi,” her dad mumbled, offering his own squeeze that he tried to cut off as soon as possible. He snuck a peek behind her down the bleak hallway that led into the ward and cleared his throat.
    “C’mon, y’all,” Carlene said brightly as she led the three down the hall, the door locks clicking with finality behind them. Anna watched the floor as they walked, catching glimpses of the leopard-print nails swinging back and forth ahead of her. She had to concentrate hard on completing each step. When they reached the common area, she collapsed into the overstuffed chair in the corner.
    “Walter, pull those two chairs over here,” her mother snapped.
    Her father dragged them over, their legs screeching painfully across the floor. His knees cracked as he sat down. Her mother took one of the seats and started to lower her Gucci purse to the floor but yanked it back up at the last second as she shot a disgusted look at the dull linoleum. Instead she balanced it on her lap.
    “So,” her mother began, “tell me how you’ve been.” She was cheerful, trying too hard.
    “Fine.”
    “And how’s the food?”
    “Fine.” Anna wouldn’t look at her.
    “Are the doctors and nurses treating you well?”
    “Yes, everything’s fine,” she barked.
    “Look, I know you’re angry you’re here, but what other choice did we have?”
    Anna said nothing.
    “Anna, sweetheart,” her mother said, her voice softer. “You threatened to kill yourself.”
    Anna glared back, wild with rage. She felt like spitting at her mother. She wanted to scream, but she still said nothing.
    “Walter, say something.” The words came out quick and short, like bullets.
    Anna shot a glance at her father. He was staring into the television across the room. “Walter!” her mother said sharply.
    His head snapped back.
    “What do you want me to say?” He could shed his meekness in a split second, his temper raging.
    Anna flinched as he yelled. She instinctively folded her arms across her chest and gripped herself tightly. Her fingers dug into the bruise by accident. The spot had already faded to yellow, but the square corner of her father’s belt buckle was still clearly imprinted.
    “Keep your voice down!” Her mother spit out the words in a loud whisper, noticing some of the faces around the room that were staring at them.
    “What did you think would happen?” her father roared. “There have to be