Eve’s POV.
I stood frozen at the back of the couch, the hum of the television report on COVID-19 filling the room like a distant storm. Everyone else seemed absorbed by the figures and statistics flashing across the screen, the monotone voice of the anchor weaving in and out of the room’s soft cluttered chaos. The faint scent of disinfectant clung to the air, mixed with the lingering aroma of Sam’s espresso from earlier. I felt invisible, the edges of the couch pressing against my back as though it were a protective barrier between me and the rest of the world.
“You stop walking around without a mask,” Uncle barked at Sam, his voice sharp but controlled. She smiled up at him, unbothered, a small smirk of defiance in the corners of her mouth.
“Mam bought new masks!” Amanda squealed, exc
