Maya sat curled into the corner of the sofa, both hands wrapped around a ceramic mug as if it were the only thing anchoring her. The cocoa had long since stopped steaming, but she kept bringing it to her lips anyway, more for comfort than taste. The marshmallows had melted into a pale swirl at the surface, soft and indistinct—just like her thoughts.The house was quiet. Too quiet.She hadn’t realized how loud silence could be until she came back.Then, at exactly a few minutes past nine, she heard it—the faint scrape of metal against metal. A key turning in the lock.Her spine straightened instantly.They were home.For a brief second, she just sat there, frozen, her heart giving a small, unexpected lurch. Then she quickly set the cup back onto its saucer, the soft clink echoing louder than it should have, and rose to her feet.The door opened.Her mother stepped in first, laughter spilling into the house before she even fully crossed the threshold. It was bright, unrestrained, the k
Read more