#8

**LIA**

Finally, I arrived back home that afternoon, but not before making a detour to Jessica's apartment and a pharmacy.

I stood in front of my house, ready to knock. A mixture of excitement and apprehension welled up within me. I faked a smile and took a deep breath. While I was undeniably happy to be home, the situation I was in cast a shadow over my return. With newfound resolve, I finally knocked on the door.

"It's opened!" Lena, my sister, called from inside.

"Come on, Selena, go and check who's at the door," my mom's voice followed. It had been so long. Yes, we had FaceTimed, chatted, and had countless phone calls, but nothing compared to the real thing. I was almost in tears, given my situation and how much I had missed her.

"Ugh! Mum, you're stressing me out!" Lena's exasperated voice echoed through the house.

"Come on, get up, you lazy ass! Be useful to me for once!" my mom's response was filled with irritation. I was close to laughter. The dynamics between them hadn't