"a mental ward? no, this must be a mistake. stella is normal."
his mother sighed. "look, all i know is that she was sent there and she'll be there for a while. if you want to talk to her, you'll have to find your own way because i'm not taking you to her. she's... changed you."
parker gave his mother a flat look, his father standing behind her motionlessly. he had been silent for a long time, probably after his son became a dud.
"have you ever thought," he said, "that she's changed me for the better?"
his parents left the facility after that.
