lace where Lia didn

ver the television remote, the clatter of plates and cutlery as someone moved too fast in the kitchen. It was chaotic in the way only family could be,

Numbers sprawled across an exercise book, smudged by eraser marks and impatience. Lia pointed g

she said softly. "Try

ng at the right moments, laughing when she was supposed to. From the outside, she looked fine-s

areful. A name would slip in, uninvite

shed i

ated from the kitchen, warm and familiar. Lia grounded herself in it all-the scrape of a chai

ounded at

and unexpected. Everyone paused for hal

ia said quietly,

d down the short hallway, her steps light, almost he

nt, they b

adn't expected her to be the one on the other side. His hair was slightly messy, his school

the back of his neck.

ast, not the whole tru

ide anyway. "Y

d and immediate, but Jaden hesitated. After a

outside," sh

, the sounds of the house softened, fading into a dull hum. Evening air brush

easier with Jaden. It di

a stared at the chipped paint on the railing, tracing its cracks with he

irst, her voice deliber

know Adrian was

d to her

omeone?" h

. Not really. There had been rumors, vague hints, nothing solid. And suddenly, the way Lia's voice

said quietly

sat heavy

taring at the

s all s

reaking him too, in a quieter way. He wanted to say something-anything-to make it better, to take the we

into dusk, the streetlights flickering

ld go,"

. "Yeah. Thanks

then smiled so

e porch long after the noise of

-

ed later th

he ceiling fan spun lazily above her, shadows shifting with every rotation. When the

eath c

ding in her ears. She told herself not to answer. She told herself she

ne kept

d and pic

hanged. Like everything was still simple. "Do

ld have

she sai

d out before sh

etween a bookstore and a closed flower shop. It smelled like coffee and suga

everything

no

imated and relaxed. Lia laughed at the right moments, her shoulders easing despite herself. They j

ment, sh

. She forgot the late nights spent convincing herself she wa

he sa

her," Adrian said, stirring his drink. "I did

smile

ng in around her. She held it together-barely. Nodded. Listened. Acted l

voice was steady despite ev

ence people said when t

led, visib

Always

miliar voice br

? Ad

eyes bright with surprise. "I

ra's presence pulled her back from the edge, even a

talking," Adri

n Lia a second longer, lighter as if she

I sit?" A

d quickly

now, safer. Stories replaced confessions. Laughter fi

in her chair,

mage was a

emembered

to be, loving Adrian was still the