Seraphina's feet felt like they were sinking into the earth with each step as she walked home, her tears blending with the soft evening mist that rolled through the trees. Her vision was blurred, her breath shaky, and her heart weighed down with the pain that she could no longer carry alone. Each footfall echoed in her ears, the sound of her boots crunching against the fallen leaves reminding her of the constant reminder that she was still here, still alive, despite the agony that gripped her soul.
As the small cottage came into view, a sense of dread washed over her. This was her sanctuary, the place where she was supposed to feel safe and loved. But right now, all it represented was the inevitable questions she would face from her mother, Freya. The thought of having to explain ever
