"IT'S GOOD you thought of visiting us, dear," Carmela said, her voice warm and gentle as she carefully combed her hair, the soft brush strokes providing a rhythmic comfort.
Her words held the familiarity of a mother’s love, and though she was busy with her task, her gaze never strayed too far from Clarissa, the quiet concern in her eyes evident. She had always been attentive to the smallest changes in her daughter’s demeanor, and it wasn’t lost on her that something seemed different today. But she didn’t press; for now, she allowed Clarissa the space she needed.
Clarissa smiled at her mother, her lips curving upward in a way that felt more automatic than genuine. She felt a deep warmth in her chest at Carmela’s words, but her thoughts were scattered, tangled in the emotions she had tri
