This morning, Erin’s diaper was not dry, and she answered accordingly. Hailey didn’t even bother to offer Erin an insincere promise that she would be getting her body under control soon. She knew Erin was too intelligent to accept baseless hope. She simply did as she always did and gave Erin a brief nod of acknowledgement.

Erin made quick work of ridding herself of her damp diaper, and she was soon redressed in her pajamas, clean clothes in hand, heading for the shower.

Hailey didn’t use the opportunity the empty bedroom presented her. In an hour, the entire house would be empty, and she wanted to be sure that she still had the urge to go then. Instead, she went down to the kitchen and poured herself some cereal. She took her time eating, rereading the cereal box that she’d already memorized. She was drinking the now-colored milk from the bottom of her bowl when Erin joined her.