These Violent Delights

Under any other circumstance, Estelle would have screamed for help. But she had lost her voice a long time ago. It wasn't that she was incapable of speaking, or born mute. It wasn't that she had a temper tantrum and would not speak until she got this or that. The truth was that a voice was a part of her that was unused to the extent where her brain found that it was not needed anymore. Yes, Estelle's voice was there, hidden among the things she used to do; play among the other children, laugh until her stomach hurt, slurp ice cream and sodas, and spend long hours swimming in the pool with friends until her fingers were rough and wrinkly. Not only had she "forgotten" to speak, but it seemed now that she had also forgotten to smile.