Things were feeling actually kind of stable the last couple of weeks. Yeah Kaden was withdrawn and keeping in his room mostly, but he was getting up (at noon) and sort of talking to people and not, like, crying or anything, so maybe things were coming right. Adrian even asked Kaden if he wanted to go to the movies with him and his friends after only a single prompt from Celeste earlier in the day before Kaden got up.
Marcie was reaching for the salt when Kaden suddenly rebuffed the invitation, and exploded from the room with a series of slamming doors, and she froze, her mouth open in surprise until the last door slammed.
"Well," said Celeste faintly, and Marcie looked down at her beef and potatoes and tried to figure out what exactly had triggered that. The family silently went on eating, cutlery clinking on plates.
"I should..." Marcie scraped her chair back and rose to her feet, glancing at her parents. Celeste gave her a little nod of encouragement. Turning, Marcie left the room, quietly opening again the doors Kaden had so forcefully closed.
"Kay?" she called quietly, knocking on the bedroom door. "Are you alright? Can I come in?"