I stepped fully into the kitchen before either of them noticed me.
The smell of something slightly burnt hung in the air. My mother’s hand trembled as she tried to stir a pot, her grip weak, her posture unsteady. The stove flame flickered beneath a pan that clearly hadn’t been watched closely.
Melissa glanced up, startled—but only for a second.
“Oh… you’re home early,” she said, setting her phone down slowly, like she needed a moment to switch roles.
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