The decision to stay home today proved to be a much-needed respite, a rare chance to step back from the chaos that had engulfed my life since Rick's mom resurfaced. In the quiet of my home, I finally allowed myself to acknowledge the weight of her return, a weight I had been carrying without fully realizing it.
As I lay in bed, sleep remained elusive, stolen away by the relentless assault of nightmares. Each night seemed to bring a new horror, a new scenario in which those closest to me were in peril. I would wake in a cold sweat, my heart racing, the echoes of those nightmares lingering long after I had opened my eyes.
The guilt weighed heavily on my chest, a constant reminder of the innocent lives that the actions of others had shattered. It was a cruel twist of fate, a reminder of th
