Nova sat at the head of the conference table, her business planner spread out before her. A cup of untouched coffee sat next to a stack of reports, her mind swimming in a sea of projections and marketing strategies. She nodded occasionally as her business planner, Jennifer, rattled off figures about the upcoming product launch, her pen poised to jot down important details. But Nova’s focus faltered when her phone buzzed next to her notebook.
Mom.
The name flashed on the screen in bold letters, and immediately, her chest tightened. She locked the screen without hesitation and pushed the phone away slightly, as if merely seeing the name conjured up memories she was desperate to bury. And of course, she had memories she wanted to bury. Bad ones at that.
Jennifer didn’t notice. She continue
