ty buzzed around her, but it all felt like background noise. Her legs carried her in the familiar direction-the one they always did when her heart was heavy. Toward the old neighborhood. Toward h

ble. She wanted to see her, she could not wait for any other day to see her, it had already been long enough to her. Her grandmother was her only r

pocket-probably a work message, maybe a reminder-but she didn't look. For the next hour, she wouldn't be

more weathered, more human. When she finally stepped off, the rain had faded into a light drizzle. She turned onto a quiet l

stories high with ivy climbing up its sides. The assist

eady racing ahead of her. The receptionist offered her

ys waiting for a girl who was constantly late, who constantly promised she'd visit

leach. As Aria approached, her footsteps slowed. The door w

lap. Her silver hair was tied back into a loose bun, and her glasses sat slightly askew on her nose. Despite the

ed, her voice raspy

beside her. "Hi, Nani," she said softly, pressing a kiss to

rand of damp hair from Aria's forehead.

holding her hand. The sound of the rain tapping

finally said. Her voi

andmother tilted her head, the way only someone w

ady given her everything. But her guard fell. She leaned her head on her gr

ledges me unless he's annoyed. I'm not sure I belong there. I'm not sure I belong anywhere." Her voice tre

er hair, slow and patient. "You are not disappearing, Aria.

grandmother's eyes glist

th someone who works with honor. And that man-your boss-he does not define your worth. You carry your own name, but do not overwork yourse

ks finally spilled down her cheeks. Her grandmother did

n murmured. "Stubborn. Gentle. Brave when no

inst her should

l, but cozy. A few framed photos sat on the dresser-Aria as a child in pigtails, her mother smili

ed, gently guiding her grandmother.

softly. "You sound like t

Aria teased,

fingers laced. The silence was com

r. "Tell me everything. Not the versi

her lip.

side it. She told her about the uniform, the polished halls, the whispered gossip in the break room. About the way Lucie

im. His office, his corridor, his washroom. I see him ever

r head thoughtfully. "But

ents. Like he watches me when he thinks I'm not looking. Or he says something in a tone t

said. "They only know how to push people away. It doesn't mean y

ked. "But

er shrugged.

quietly, the tensi

the facility shimmered with the recent rain. Trees swayed gent

"From job to job. From one version of myself to

nd full of love. "You are becoming someone brave. So

inst the windowpane. "It

m. But storms pass, Aria. And when they d

with a warm smile. "Ms. Aria, we're about to ser

lied. "And I'll stay wi

odded and d

y grin. "They serve me overco

"I'll smuggle

is time....i don't wa

r grandmother eat, cutting the meat into smaller bites, gently wipi

e woman who once carried her on her back now needed help lifting a

gain, holding hands beneath the knitted blanket.

bring you home

temple. "I'm already home

hroat. "You deserve better....do

lways about where you are," she replied. "It's abou

that sentence