Chapter 119 - Eggs and pancakes

The smell of frying eggs and bacon drifts into my room, pulling me from sleep. I rub my eyes and sit up, squinting as the early morning light filters through my curtains. This isn’t just any breakfast smell, though; it’s an entire feast. I slip out of bed, hesitant, and pad down the hall toward the kitchen, my stomach twisting.

When I reach the doorway, I see her—Mom, standing over the stove, humming softly to herself as she flips pancakes. The kitchen counters are co