“Mama, why are we going so fast?” asked Marissa. She watched her mother’s face in the mirror. Maybe it was the rain outside, but her mother’s cheeks were wet. Mama angrily wiped the water away, clutching the steering wheel and staring out onto the road. She didn’t answer.
“Mama?” Marissa asked again.
“Hush, Marissa,” snapped her mother. “I’m trying to concentrate.”
Marissa fell silent, but she knew it wasn’t just the weather. It was Dad. He was living at a different house now. Marissa didn’t understand why.
“Is it Daddy?” asked Marissa softly.
“SHUT UP!” screamed her mother, flailing back to hit her. Marissa screamed, too. Her mother had never raised her voice before. She was scared.
Marissa started to cry.