The kitchen smelled faintly of garlic and thyme as Amelia bustled about, rinsing dishes and wiping down the counter. It had been a long day, her body tired, but the silence in the house weighed more heavily than the chores on her hands. She sighed, pulling her hair back into a messy bun just as her phone lit up on the bar.

She glanced at the screen. "Mom."

Her heart softened a little. She quickly dried her hands with a towel and answered.

"Hi, Mom," she said, trying to mask the fatigue in he