Lauren sat cross-legged on the couch, staring at the flickering light of the Christmas tree, the colors blurring together in her unfocused gaze.
Outside, the snow fell steadily, coating the streets in a soft white blanket. The world looked peaceful. Inside her chest, though, everything felt tangled.
Larry sat across from her, sprawled out on the armchair with his phone in hand, lazily scrolling. He looked... better. Or at least, that’s what he wanted her to think. His skin wasn’t as pale, and he wasn’t swaying on his feet like he had been a few days ago.
Lauren chewed her bottom lip, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. Should she ask him again? Or would that just make him shut down more?
"So," she said instead, forcing a smile. "Margaret and my mom get back tomorrow."
