MAX The dining table felt smaller than usual tonight. Now that I gave it some thought, when was the last time we were all sat here? As expected from her endless grocery list, Aunt Kim had gone all out — roasted chicken with herbs, creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables glistening with olive oil, and that rich homemade gravy she only made when she wanted to remind us what “home” was supposed to feel like. The smells should have been comforting. Instead, they sat heavy in my chest, mixing with the lingering fog from last night, and just a couple hours ago. Bianca sat directly across from me, pushing food around her plate with careful precision. Vanessa was to my right, quiet but close, her knee occasionally brushing mine under the table. Aunt Kim, at the head, kept the conversation alive with that warm, motherly energy that made the house feel almost normal again. “So tell me,” Aunt Kim said, smiling as she passed the rolls, “how has the house been holding up without me? Any
Last Updated : 2026-06-30 Read more