Lily’s POV

I got home not long planning to finally have some rest though have been resting for a while now but it’s night already time for a proper rest when my phone vibrated against the edge of the nightstand like a living thing trying to escape.

I had been staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours, the soft glow of the city leaking through the half-drawn curtains, painting pale stripes across Nora’s empty side of the bed. The sheets still held the faint scent of her shampoo. My fingers twitched toward the phone before my mind fully caught up.

Mom.

The single word on the screen made...