Stephanie wanted to shrivel up and disappear completely. The last thing she wanted was for Marcelo to see her like this- least of all to see that she'd just splattered a bunch of food over the wall like an overgrown baby having a tantrum.

It didn't help that her head felt like lead and she could barely even raise it in even the feeblest effort to look dignified.

She let out a last sob and just sat there for a moment silently, her mouth unable to form words, her muscles and bones all aching from exhaustion, shame and regret burning in her mind. Stephanie wanted more than anything to just run away somewhere he couldn't see her.

But she was simply too tired to run or make excuses and get defensive.

She just sat there, her head in her hands.