ELLIANA'S POV
I nodded, pouring the dark liquid into the wok. The aroma intensified, and my mouth watered in response.
As we finished up and sat down to eat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for this quiet, ordinary moment with my mother. It was moments like these that made life worth living.
It had been a week since I'd last spoken to Tom, and I'd made sure to keep my distance. We lived in the same house, but I'd become a master of avoidance. I'd take the stairs when I knew he'd be in the elevator, and I'd eat my meals in my room instead of joining the family in the dining room.
It wasn't easy, but I knew it was necessary. Seeing Tom's face, his smile, his eyes... it all still hurt too much. I wasn't ready to face him, to pretend like everything was okay when it wasn't.
