AWARENESS
546 Words
Morning in Montana comes slowly, the light pale and silver against the frost-glass windows. Elora liked it that way. Nothing abrupt. Nothing demanding.
The kitchen smelled like coffee and butter and something faintly sweet-pancakes, judging by the stack cooling on the counter. Her mother always made too many, as if abundance itself were a kind of rebellion.
Rowan was already perched at the table, swinging his legs, syrup smeared at the corner of his mouth like evidence of a crime he wasn't sorry for. Seren sat hunched over her phone, hood up, earbuds half-in, the universal posture of someone fourteen and unimpressed by the world.
Jasper her father stood at the stove, flipping the last pancake with careful focus. He moved like someone who had learned patience the hard way.
"Sit before your brother eats everything," Fleur said, sliding a plate toward Elora without looking. Her voice was calm, warm, practiced.
Elora sat.
Rowan grinned immediately and reached for her plate.
"Don't," she warned.
He did it anyway.
She swatted his hand, not hard, and he laughed like he'd won something.
"That was mine," she said.
"You didn't say that fast enough," he replied, already retreating with half a pancake.
Seren didn't look up. "You're gross."
"You're just mad because I'm happy," Rowan shot back.
"Rowan," Fleur said mildly.
He froze, then sighed dramatically and returned the pancake to Elora's plate. "You're all against me."
Elora cut it in half and slid the larger piece back to him. His grin returned instantly.
Fleur glanced at her then, soft-eyed. "Any plans today?"
Elora shook her head. "Just class. Homework. The usual."
Fleur hummed, unconvinced. "You've been saying that a lot."
"It's midterm season," Elora said.
"That doesn't mean you stop being twenty-two."
Elora smiled faintly but didn't answer.
"There's that thing with Mara's family tonight,"
Fleur continued. "The dinner?"
"I'll pass."
"Why?"
Elora shrugged. "Long day."
Fleur studied her for a moment-not critically,
not sharply. Just... noticing. Then she nodded. "Alright. Another time."
But her hand brushed Elora's shoulder as she passed, gentle and deliberate, like a reminder that the offer wasn't gone-just waiting.
"Seren," Fleur said, turning. "Did you finish your history assignment?"
Seren sighed like the question physically pained her. "Yes. It's done."
"Did you finish it, or did you stop looking at it?"
Seren finally looked up, eyes sharp. "I finished it."
"Okay." Fleur smiled. "How's school?"
"Fine."
"Anything new?"
"No."
Rowan snorted. "She's lying."
"Rowan," Jasper said without turning.
"She slammed her door yesterday," Rowan added helpfully.
Seren kicked his chair. "You're dead."
Rowan beamed. "See? Amazing."
Jasper set the pan down and sat at the table. "You excited for today?"
Rowan nodded enthusiastically. "We get free time and I'm bringing my cards. Ben says he might trade me the dragon one."
"That's a terrible deal," Elora said.
"It's shiny," Rowan said, offended.
Fleur laughed softly. "Just don't bite anyone if it doesn't work out."
Rowan made a face. "I'm not a baby."
Seren replied "you're six that's close"
Making the family smile in amusement.
Elora watched them-this table, this noise, this life-and felt that familiar, quiet ache. Not sadness. Not anger.
Awareness.
They had made something good here. Something whole.
And that, somehow, was the part she was most afraid to lose.
- Writer
