Home Visits

The bus pulled slowly into the familiar town center, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the modest streets lined with maple trees just beginning to show hints of autumn color. Daisy watched the scenery roll past the window, the gentle rhythm of the bus wheels on the pavement lulling her into a peaceful state. The small town felt both unchanged and quietly different since she had left for college, carrying memories that tugged at her heart.

Her backpack sat heavy on her lap, filled with books and papers, but more than that, it held the anticipation of seeing Ava — her mother — and the...