Across the table, Delilah, usually the embodiment of carefree energy, suddenly buried her face in Barbara's lap, hiding from her family. Barbara, despite her usual teasing and exasperated remarks about Delilah, did not push her away. Instead, she gently stroked Delilah's back, her hand moving in soothing circles, offering quiet comfort.
Jasper watched the scene unfold, a pang of emotion tightening her chest. She knew how much her younger sister had endured over the years. As a child, Delilah had been prone to tears and tantrums, her emotions unfiltered and raw. But after their mother's tragic death, the overwhelming grief that consumed their grandmother and Jasper had left no room for Delilah's own sorrow. In a desperate attempt to lift their spirits, Delilah forced herself to become a so
