DAPHNE
I press my lips together, choosing not to dwell on his silence. The thought of warm, cheesy pizza is far more exciting. As we continue walking down the sidewalk, the familiar scent of spices and city air in my nose, we come across a young woman struggling under the weight of several grocery bags. A baby clings to her chest in a front carrier, wailing with all the strength in his tiny lungs.
"What's wrong, Ethan?" The woman murmurs, clearly at her limit. She sets her bags down with a soft grunt, unbuckling the carrier to lift the crying baby into her arms. But the crying doesn’t stop, it worsens. She bounces him gently, exhaustion written all over her face. Sweat beads on her forehead as she fumbles through one of her bags with one hand, her movements unsteady with the child in th
