~ Mara ~
The house felt wrong.
Not empty.
Wrong.
Like the air itself was trying to tell me something I didn't know.
I sat on the couch pretending to watch the same cartoon Lily had already watched twice.
She lay on the floor colouring something that looked like a dragon wearing sunglasses.
Every few minutes she looked up.
“Did Uncle Cole text you yet?”
“No.”
“Maybe he’s driving.”
“Probably.”
She nodded like that made sense.
Kids believed the world ran on simple explanations.
Adults knew better.
My phone sat on the coffee table.
Silent.
I hated that silence.
Lily colored another bright green scale on the dragon.
“Mommy you're thinking again.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“The stare.”
“I’m not staring.”
“You are.”
I forced a small smile.
“I’m just tired.”
“You should take a
