*feels errant, angry tears prickling at the corners of her eyes (shut the fuck up for once in your life) and bites her tongue hard enough to distract herself*
*lifting her chin high, even though she knows her mother is getting more and more anxious about her by the day (and it's hard to see her mother hurt)* It's like being in a secret club or something. Mom and Dad aren't allowed and don't you dare help them understand.(They have their own club anyway.)