Samora’s Room

“Wow, you’re so beautiful, dear,” Samora said softly, her voice like a gentle caress, full of warmth and genuine affection. Her eyes sparkled with kindness, but behind that softness was an unwavering strength—a woman who had endured much and come out steady on the other side.

Marceline forced out a smile, tight and hesitant. “Thank you, ma’am,” she replied, her voice betraying the turmoil twisting in her chest. The words felt stiff, a little awkward, but she pushed them through—politeness, her only armor in this room.

“Oh, don’t call me ma’am,” Samora said with a small, tender laugh. “You’re now my daughter-in-law, so you should call me Mother.”...