Sienna

So after pacing my room for almost an hour, I finally made myself walk down the hallway to my mum’s room. I didn’t rehearse anything. I didn’t come with a speech. I just needed to breathe near someone who wasn’t demanding anything from me.

I knocked softly.

“Mum?”

Her voice came out tired but gentle. “Come in, baby.”

She was sitting by the window, wearing her reading glasses even though she wasn’t reading anything. I could tell she’d been thinking deeply, the way she does when the space around her feels too heavy.

I sat on the edge of her bed and she turned toward me slowly, almost like...