DAHLIA

The air in the living room felt heavy as the door closed behind them. I sat down on one of the dark brown leather couches, crossing my legs, my mind racing.

Jay sat next to me, his presence calming. He smiled at me, then gently kissed my cheek. It made me feel warm inside, and for a moment, I allowed myself to relax.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice soft.

I nodded and smiled faintly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... thinking about everything.”

He studied me for a moment, then asked, “Do you think she’s Keilah’s mom?”

I thought about it. The woman looked a lot like Keilah, but something...