LILITH

At my words, Uncle Theo froze in my arms.

Then, slowly, his hands came up to pat my back—firm, yet trembling.

After a moment, he pulled away, concern etched into the lines of his face.

“Moving out… Lilith, are you sure about this?”

“I am,” I said softly. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.”

His mouth opened, as if to argue, but he closed it again, his lips pressing into a thin line. The silence stretched between us, heavy with everything neither of us dared to voice.

Finally, he exhaled, shoulders sagging. “I know I can’t persuade you. Not when you’ve already made up your mind....