By the next morning, the weekend felt like a blur I wanted to forget. I ate a quiet breakfast at the hot spring resort, packed up, and drove straight to work like nothing had happened. Pretending was easier than explaining.Around noon, my phone lit up. It was Lyra. The first call from her since she’d snuck away that day.“Mom…” Her voice was soft, hesitant.“Mm,” I murmured, keeping my tone neutral. “Have you eaten?”“Just finished!” she said brightly, her cheerfulness too forced, too casual.As if she’d already forgotten how she had lied, slipped away to meet Emma and Darius, and left me behind without a word. That morning, she’d gotten a call from Emma, who told her that her father was taking her out and invited her to join. And of course, my daughter had agreed in an instant. She’d gone running to them, full of excitement, while I was still asleep, unaware.She’d had a great time, apparently. I returned home yesterday afternoon but I still didn’t bother to text or call. And now, th
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