Chapter 41
Daphne
Winter in San Francisco felt harsher than I remembered. The icy wind swept through the steep streets, and the constant sound of rain tapping against the windows of my mother’s house had become a sort of soundtrack to my days here. It was strange how the weather seemed to mirror my emotional state: cold, unstable, and a bit melancholic.
I had been in the city for a week now, and although I had initially doubted whether stepping away was the right choice, I now knew I needed it. Not just to escape the chaos I had left behind, but to reconnect with myself. My mother always said that sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward, and although I hadn’t fully understood what she meant at the time, it made more sense now.
My days with her had been pleasant, even com
