Sydney

For a second, I just stood at the door, my chest tight, eyes partly wide as I stared at Mom.

She had her hair sleeked into a neat bun, her face smooth like she’d just finished her night routine, her lips pressed into a thin line as she looked back at me.

And I just felt like running past her out of the house.

But then her lips lifted at the side. And slowly, they curved into a smile.

“Can I come in?” She asked softly, like she was afraid of disturbing the silence in the house.

I swallowed hard and stepped aside quickly.

“Yes,” I muttered, forcing a...