I woke up earlier than usual.
My body just refused to stay asleep. The house was quiet in that early-morning way. I lay there for a bit, staring at the ceiling, listening to the low hum of the air conditioner and the distant sound of someone moving around downstairs.
I eventually got up, showered, and dressed in something simple. Jeans. A soft long-sleeved top. Nothing fancy. I tied my hair back, glanced at myself in the mirror, and looked away before I could start overthinking.
When I got downstairs, breakfast was already set.
Auntie May was moving between the counter and the table, humming under her breath. She'd been in Lucas's house for as long as I could remember. Longer than Ivy, longer than Caleb. She used to make my lunch before school, braid my hair when I was too young to care, scold me when I skipped meals. At some point, she stopped feeling like staff and just became… family.
"Morning, my girl," she said when she saw me. "Sit. Food will get cold."
I did.
