Startled.

It was an hour later when Anna arrived at her parent’s place.

She knocked meekly on the door, and was startled when the door was flung open.

“Anna?” Her father was the one who answered it and she could have nearly cried at the relief in his eyes. He pulled her close into a hug and she closed her eyes briefly from the warmth.

“Where have you been?” He asked her, curiosity in his voice. “And how are the twins?”

“I had to travel for a bit. For work,” she clarified, the lie that she had come up with left her lips so easily. “The kids are okay as well.”

She stepped into the house that she had lived in all her childhood.

…

Anna woke up from the bed of her childhood room early the next morning. Sleep hadn’t come easily but she eventually drifted off. After an hour of tossing and turning, she got up for a jog and had breakfast.

“Good morning mum, dad,” she greeted her parents as she returned for breakfast.

Her mother eyed her in silence, and Anna could sense questions on her mind. Having lied