Emily's POV
The garden was peaceful in the evening light, the kind of calm that made you forget, if only for a moment, that anything could be wrong in the world.
Mom walked slowly beside me, her arm looped through mine, while Nurse Mary followed a respectful distance behind. The treatment was working. Every day, Mom grew a little stronger, her steps a little steadier. It was the one bright spot in the darkness that had become my life in this mansion.
"The roses are lovely," Mom said, pausing to admire a particularly vibrant bloom. "Such beautiful colors."
I nodded, trying to focus on the flowers, on the warmth of the alresdy faded sun, on anything except the hollow ache that had taken up permanent residence in my chest. Since Victor's half-hearted almost-apology that had somehow made everything worse.
"Emily, darling, are you listening?"
"Sorry, Mom. What were you saying?"
She studied my face, her brow arched. "I was saying this place is beautiful. We're lucky to be here."
