The mask slips
The mist that engulfed the bay and obscured the horizon filled the morning air, drifting in heavy sheets that clung to the rooftops and made every shape appear half-formed, dreamlike. Emilia walked down the narrow wooden steps with her arms folded tightly across her chest, as though she were trying to hold herself together. A knot of discomfort sat firmly inside her ribs, making each breath shallow and sharp. The soggy planks creaked beneath her feet, and for a fleeting moment she feared the sound would draw attention—though from whom, she could not say. The town was still half-asleep. Only the gulls seemed fully awake, screeching as they cut across the fog.
Margaret was already at the counter when Emilia entered the bakery, carefully stacking the morning loaves with her u
