ANNABEL’S POV
The basement unfolded before me like a realm frozen in time. The air hung heavy with the residue of magic, and shadows clung to every nook and cranny. Stepping into the abyss, I steeled myself for the revelations that awaited beneath.
As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, a figure emerged from the shadows—a figure I had longed to find. My mother stood there, a spectral presence suspended in the timeless space of the basement. A gasp escaped my lips, "Oh, Mum."
However, the joy of the reunion was short-lived as I realized she stood unresponsive, a silent witness to the passage of years. Her eyes, once filled with warmth and life, seemed distant, as if trapped in a dream from which she could not awaken.
I approached tentatively, reaching out as if touch could bridge the gap
