Emma sat at the edge of her bed, already dressed up for school in a pair of leggings and halter neck top, her handbag laying on the bed. Her hands skimmed through her hair continuously trying to straighten it out, mind a blur of restless thoughts.
Her mother’s voice from the night before still echoed in her head — “We’ll talk in the morning.”
Only… morning had come, and the thought of facing her mother — or any of them — made her stomach twist.
Downstairs, the soft clatter of cutlery drifted up from the dining room. Laughter — Lily’s, light and sweet — followed by her father’s low chuckle. It was strange how normal they all sounded. Like nothing had happened. Like she didn’t exist in the same house as them.
A soft knock came on the door before it opened.
“Emma?” Alexa stepped in, stil
