Pierre wore a defeated expression as he stood before the door of his home, took a deep breath, and knocked.
A short minute later, a woman with auburn hair opened the door. She had a pointed nose as he did, but bore him down with dead eyes. "You're back," she said flatly.
"Yes, Mom." Pierre stepped inside.
The simple house was modest and clean, but it felt quite hollow. His mother had already turned away, returning to whatever she'd been doing before his arrival had interrupted her.
Pierre followed her into the living room, where she sat on the couch, phone in hand, scrolling through something he couldn't see.
"Aren't you going to ask me how school was?" He forces a playful grin.
There was a brief silence.
"How was school?" she asked, not looking up.
"It was fine. I got an 'A' on my math test."
"Hm."
That was all. Just 'hm.'
Pierre stood there for a moment longer, waiting for... something. Anything.
